According to Osho, the phrase 'dirty old man' names a pathology created by sexual repression: the body has grown old and wants rest, but the mind—stuffed with unfulfilled, repressed desires—still lusts. This mismatch breeds a leering, ugly energy. Lived naturally, sex wanes by midlife and transforms into innocent love and compassion—the truly 'clean' elder.
It means an old person seems creepy because his body is tired but his mind still craves sex from years of repression; if we live sex naturally, old age becomes gentle love.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Why is there such an expression as "the dirty old man"? I am getting on and I suspect people are beginning to think about me in exactly those words.
Once every three seconds sex somehow flashes in the mind. The young man is possessed by such great natural forces that he cannot be free. Ambition is there, and time is running fast, and he has to do something and he has to be something. All those hopes and desires and fantasies of childhood have to be fulfilled; he is in a great rush, in a hurry. The old man knows that those childish desires were really childish. The old man knows that all those days of youth and turmoil are gone. The old man is in the same state as when the storm has gone and silence prevails. That silence can be of tremendous beauty, depth, richness. If the old man is really mature, which is very rarely the case, then he will be beautiful. But people only grow in age, they don't grow up. Hence the problem. Grow…
Osho, when I listen to you, every word sinks to the depths of my heart and stirs me. But when I read you, it remains a mental game. Please tell me why this happens.
It’s plain. The arithmetic is simple. When you read, only you are there; I am not. What you read is nothing but you. It becomes a game of the mind. When you listen to me, then sometimes—knowingly or unknowingly—I also slip into you. You seldom give such a chance, but now and then a lapse happens on your side. Unaware, you leave the door a little open—and I come in. So when you are hearing me, it’s a different matter. That is why truth has always been spoken, not written. It cannot be written. Even speaking it is very difficult, yet it can still be said—at least a little can be said, a little news can be given. Because in speaking, many elements are involved that are lost in writing. When you read a book, the book is dead. A book cannot create an atmosphere around you. A book has…
As one evolves spiritually, interest in sex may become less strong. So if I'm not so sexy these days am I getting older or closer to enlightenment?
Love is really secondary for a young man; his whole interest is sex. When a young man is telling a girl, "I love you", he's just planning how to hop into the bed. All this is nonsense, he knows, but it has to be done, it is part of the game. If you ask a woman suddenly, "How about it?" she may scream or call the police; it is so unexpected. You have to persuade. And she is also thinking -- if you go on persuading long enough, she becomes bored. If you go on saying, "I love you, I love you," and there is no sign of hopping into the bed, she becomes fed-up. The introduction should not be too long. It should not be like George Bernard Shaw where the book consists of only a hundred pages and the introduction is two hundred pages. Who waits for the…
Sex is life. It is life energy, elan vital, libido -- whatsoever you call it. Once you give it total freedom, spontaneity, by and by you will see that without repressing it, it starts being transformed into a subtle understanding. But that is not repression. Your whole sensitivity remains the same, on the peak. You retain your clarity of eyes, clarity of thinking, clarity of every door of your being; everything remains clear and open. By and by sex starts being transformed into a higher plane. You become more creative. You start creating something -- a painting, a poetry, a music playing on the instrument or something. This is not repression... this is expression. Then sex disappears -- that's what brahmacharya is. The real celibacy... you become virgin again. Just see. A child is born. The child is virgin, absolutely innocent.
Beloved master, are will and surrender two names of the same path? Kindly comment.
There is only one path. What you decide to call it does not matter. The word `surrender' and the word `will' appear to be diametrically opposite, but in reality they are complementary. They are not contradictory. It is a little subtle. Only a man of will can surrender, because surrender needs tremendous courage. Never think that surrender is for those who are weak. Surrender is for those who are tremendously strong, so strong that they can even surrender their ego to the master. It needs tremendous courage, guts. It needs will, will to surrender. If you don't have a will you cannot surrender. Who will surrender? But will alone will not help. Will alone will enhance your ego and will take you away from the path. Will as a master is dangerous, harmful; will as a servant to surrender is beautiful. Use will to serve surrender and you will be…