According to Osho, calling men 'monkeys' is not an insult but a mirror: evolution links us, and in many ways monkeys are happier, stronger, innocent vegetarians who do not make wars. Humans wobble between falling below animals - sad, imitative, violent - or rising far beyond as Buddhas. The comparison punctures ego and invites a shift from mechanical imitation to conscious, celebrative living.
It means don’t feel insulted; see how we often copy and fight, and choose to grow wiser and happier instead.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Why do you call men monkeys? Isn't it insulting to the dignity of nan?
Monkeys think otherwise. They don't like to be compared with men; they think it is against the dignity of monkeys. When Darwin said that man has come out of the monkeys, has evolved out of the monkeys, monkeys were very angry. Great treatises have been written by the monkeys proving that man is a fall and not an evolution. And there are arguments for it. Man has fallen from the tree to the earth. It is a fall. And man has become less than he was. Ask any monkey. Just try to follow a monkey and it will be impossible. How strong a monkey is! Man is no longer strong. Man is almost impotent in comparison to the monkey. See the joy of the monkeys. Man is so sad. In the first place why should man think that his dignity is insulted or he is humiliated? Monkeys are beautiful people.…
My own observation is that whatsoever the mind chooses is almost always wrong. So the best way is: whatsoever is available, try; try everything -- all the meditations, all the groups. One never knows in what situation the lightning will happen. But it happens -- that much is certain. -- How long will you be here? -- One month. -- That is not like a Japanese! (Osho shakes his head slowly, looking smilingly at Govindo, and does it for so long that everyone begins to laugh.) Next time come for a longer period! Good. Anurage means pure love. Love can be impure, then it creates bondage. When it is pure it brings freedom. The whole process of sannyas is of purifying your love-energy. It is mixed with many things, because our society makes every child a mess.
Question: Second question: Osho, why have the saints sung such glory of human life? Look at the word “manushya” (human). It is born of “manan”—reflection. The one who has the capacity to reflect. The English word “man,” too, is born of manan. The Urdu word aadmi is very ordinary; it is derived from “Adam.” Adam means earth—clay, a figure of clay. That is not the essence of man. In the word aadmi, the essence of man is not there; only the shell is. A clay figurine—yes, that is true. But who is hidden within the clay figurine? In the earthen, the conscious is hidden! The lamp may be of clay; granted. But the flame that burns is not clay. The word aadmi speaks of the outer shell; the word manushya speaks of the pulp hidden within that shell, of the soul.
Question: BELOVED OSHO, A NURSE, WORKING IN A HOSPITAL WITH SMALL DISABLED AND BACKWARD CHILDREN, TOLD ME OF THE FOLLOWING CASE WHICH SHE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF. THERE WAS A SMALL BOY ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD WHO WAS CONFINED IN A BED -- NOT ONLY WITH COT SIDES BUT WITH BARS ACROSS THE TOP TOO -- LIKE A CAGE. HE WAS VERY SMALL FOR HIS AGE, UNABLE TO SPEAK OR WALK OR EVEN TO SIT. HE WAS FAIR-SKINNED AND WAS COVERED ALL OVER HIS BODY WITH LONG, DARK BROWN HAIR, AND WAS ALWAYS HANGING BY HIS HANDS AND FEET FROM THE ROOF OF HIS CAGE, MAKING SOUNDS LIKE A MONKEY. HE REFUSED ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT FOODS EXCEPT BANANAS -- HE ATE NOTHING ELSE; HOWEVER, HE WAS A VERY HAPPY AND FRIENDLY CHILD. EARLY MAN LOOKED SIMILAR TO MONKEYS, AND MODERN MAN OFTEN BEHAVES LIKE A MONKEY.
The prince of wu took a boat to monkey mountain. As soon as the monkeys saw him they all fled in panic and hid in the treetops.
ONE MONKEY, HOWEVER, REMAINED, COMPLETELY UNCONCERNED, SWINGING FROM BRANCH TO BRANCH -- AN EXTRAORDINARY DISPLAY. THE PRINCE SHOT AN ARROW AT THE MONKEY, BUT THE MONKEY DEXTEROUSLY CAUGHT THE ARROW IN MID-FLIGHT. AT THIS THE PRINCE ORDERED HIS ATTENDANTS TO MAKE A CONCERTED ATTACK. IN AN INSTANT THE MONKEY WAS SHOT FULL OF ARROWS AND FELL DEAD. THEN THE PRINCE TURNED,TO HIS COMPANION YEN PU'I: 'YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED? THIS ANIMAL ADVERTISED HIS CLEVERNESS. HE TRUSTED IN HIS OWN SKILL. HE THOUGHT NO ONE COULD TOUCH HIM. REMEMBER THAT! DO NOT RELY ON DISTINCTION AND TALENT WHEN YOU DEAL WITH MEN!' WHEN THEY RETURNED HOME, YEN PU'I BECAME A DISCIPLE OF A SAGE TO GET RID OF EVERYTHING THAT MADE HIM OUTSTANDING. HE RENOUNCED EVERY PLEASURE. HE LEARNED TO HIDE EVERY DISTINCTION. SOON NO ONE IN THE KINGDOM KNEW WHAT TO MAKE OF HIM. THUS THEY HELD HIM IN AWE.…