Perversion

Osho, this change of a man into a woman or a woman into a man—we cannot call someone a pervert for that, if it is natural. With social conditions changing, a woman becoming man-like or a man becoming effeminate—I am not talking about that—but medically, in the inner structure that functions, where even a one-percent difference brings about change, for that we cannot use the word “perverted”...

No, no, we should not. Absolutely not. Just as someone may have a disease; we cannot call them a pervert. No, no—the question of calling them a pervert does not arise. But many people do say, “This is perversion.” No—not perversion, an accident. Not perversion—an accident. You are saying this now, but ordinarily people... No, there is no question of perversion. It is simply an accident, and measures should be taken to save one from this accident. And the person with whom this accident is happening is worthy of compassion, not of an abuse like “pervert.” No—the mistake is ours, and every attempt to “correct” him is an attempt born of our ignorance, unless we concern ourselves with making his whole personality qualitatively feminine—which can be done; there is no difficulty in it. With a few hormone injections he can become feminine, he can become masculine. But we are not…

Question: BELOVED OSHO, WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF PERVERSION IN REGARD TO SEX? Sarjano, perversion means your energy is not going in the natural way; the natural way has been blocked, suppressed, condemned. But the energy is there and collecting, it is bound to find some outlet. That outlet will not be natural. That outlet will be perversion. And the whole past of man is nothing else -- from different directions, for different excuses you have been told to cut off your natural paths for energy and expression. Man is an intelligent being. Even unintelligent animals are bound to find some way. In the wild, no animals turn homosexual; there is no need because there is no priest.

What is sexual perversion? Why do strange sexual habits evolve, and from where? For example, sado-masochism.

Man is not what he appears to be, he is far bigger. We know about man only in a very partial way. You will have to understand these five categories: the first is the conscious mind. The conscious mind is a very tiny mind, just a little bit of you which can reason, think, rationalize, go through logical processes and is a little bit alert. It is a very tiny part of you, and we know man only from that tiny part. We have looked into the great palace of human consciousness from a very tiny hole, maybe the keyhole. And whatsoever we have seen through the keyhole is not the whole reality. Man is vast. Just hidden behind the conscious mind there is the unconscious mind. Its discovery is the great contribution of Sigmund Freud to humanity. The unconscious mind is nine times bigger than the conscious mind. It…

Can we not call this perversion? Can we not call these people perverts?

It is not a question of calling them perverts, it is an accident. It has nothing to do with perversion. It is basically an accident, and ways should be found to save oneself from such an accident. The one who is a victim of such an accident deserves pity, he should not be called a pervert. The person is not at fault. Unless we care to bring about a qualitative change in people with respect to their effeminacy or masculinity, which is not too difficult, all our efforts to correct them are acts of foolishness. By injecting hormones the person can be made feminine or masculine -- but we don't think along these lines. If a woman nags her husband, harasses him, dominates him, the husband never thinks of consulting a doctor. He prefers rather to bring her to a monk, a holy man, for him to counsel her. The…