Amrit Sadhana

Isn’t it a pity that we are still celebrating the woman’s day in the 21st century. The fact that there is a need to create a special day to support women itself is derogatory, as if women are a separate species; a subject to be discussed in specially organised conventions and seminars. Interestingly, there are no discussions on men’s problems or the uplifting of men. Nor do any institutions come forward to celebrate men’s day.

There have been organised efforts to liberate woman from her slavery which did not have spectacular results, but they have succeeded in spreading awareness about looking upon a woman as an individual. The reason why the women’s liberation movement has not succeeded is that the issues it had picked up were not women issues at all. These issues cannot be resolved unless they are acknowledged as “men’s issues”, too. Men and women are inseparable like two sides of a coin. If women have to breathe freely in the society, men have to be free of their conditioning. Because it is a male-dominated society that has created problems for women. A society in which a woman has to be always afraid of men is not worth calling a civilised society. Unless man has transformed his repressed sexuality women cannot feel free and fearless in his company.
Also, it is futile to expect that social organisations or the law can resolve any conflict between man and woman. The relationship is too intimate, too complex to be sorted out by social or legal agencies. Unless the male mind undergoes a radical change, woman’s predicament is not going to alter. What is needed is men organisations educating men. May be women can be on the board, too and give men an understanding of the female mystery. They can give them a perspective on and sensitivity towards women issues.
The need for women to take a larger role in the political arena is quite evident, particularly in countries like India where parliamentary sessions have become a noisy and rowdy affair. In peacemaking and conflict intervention, women’s qualities can outshine men. In fact, Osho has suggested 50 per cent reservation for women in Parliament. The presence of feminine grace in the House will change the quality of its operation.
The second step towards resolving women’s issues is we all stop looking at women through the eyes of men. By doing so we will discover a treasure trove of amazing qualities, such as beauty, grace, trust, love and care, intuition, patience, resilience and a passive strength. The feminine principle, which constitutes half of the universe, contains a tremendous source of creativity. The denial of it has resulted in a paralytic and perverted society.
The good news is that we have not missed the boat entirely. We can change the axis and start paying attention to the neglected half of humanity. Osho calls her the new woman.
The new woman does not have to compete or compare herself with man, she just have to be herself. Primarily she has to deeply look into and get rid of her conditioning given to her down the ages. It may look like an uphill task, but a change of gestalt will help her reclaim her lost power. Femininity is indeed very powerful. It is the power of creation, the power of a flower, the power of the water element.
One of the most original contribution of the Osho vision is the appreciation of the feminine. It encourages women to blossom into their fullness and win men over not by fighting, but by becoming more loving and caring. A woman is endowed with these qualities. The greatest strength of the new woman is meditation. It will come as a surprise that women can meditate more easily than men because they are more in touch with their heart, their interior world, are natural and more relaxed. Meditation will free them from their inhibitions, pettinesses and past conditioning; and for the first time they will be independent. And so will be the man.

— Amrit Sadhana is in the management team of Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune. She facilitates meditation workshops around the country and abroad