The Book of Woman

1. Awareness transcends gender; it's the key to understanding.

I am not talking as a man, I am not talking as a woman. I am not talking as a mind at all.

Beyond the Bodymind. True understanding comes not from the perspective of a man or a woman, but from a place of pure awareness. This awareness transcends the limitations of the body and mind, which are inherently divided by masculine and feminine aspects. It is a state of pure consciousness, witnessing, and watchfulness.

Transcending Limitations. To truly understand, one must move beyond the confines of gender and personal identity. The author emphasizes that he has lived in both male and female bodies, witnessing the experiences of each. This allows him to speak from a place of universal awareness, rather than a limited, gendered perspective.

Listen as Awareness. The author urges listeners to shed their preconceived notions of gender and listen to him as awareness. This requires a shift in perspective, a willingness to move beyond the limitations of the mind and embrace a more expansive, conscious understanding. Only then can one truly grasp the essence of what he is conveying.

2. Love, not understanding, is the first step to accepting women.

I have told you that a woman is to be loved, not understood. That is the first understanding.

Mystery of Existence. Life is inherently mysterious, defying complete understanding. Attempts to dissect and analyze existence, whether it be men, women, or nature, fall short of capturing its true essence. Instead of seeking to understand, one should embrace the mystery and approach life with love.

Beyond Logic. Logic and rationality are man-made constructs that cannot fully explain the complexities of existence. As science delves deeper into the core of matter, it encounters more and more mysteries that defy logical explanation. True understanding comes from listening to nature, not dictating to it.

Embrace the Unknown. The ultimate understanding lies in recognizing that nothing can be fully understood. Instead of striving for complete comprehension, one should rejoice in the mystery and become one with it. This is the beginning of true wisdom and the foundation for a religious life.

3. Conditioning, not nature, dictates most gender differences.

Most of the differences between men and women are because of thousands of years of conditioning.

Invented Differences. The majority of perceived differences between men and women are the result of societal conditioning over millennia. These invented differences have been used to justify the domination and exploitation of women by men. However, some fundamental differences do exist, giving each gender unique beauty and individuality.

• Capacity to produce life: Women possess this unique ability, leading to male feelings of inferiority.
• Vulnerability during childbirth: Women are dependent on men for nine months or more.

Love and Sexuality. Women are more capable of love as a spiritual experience, while men's love is often driven by physical necessity. Women seek charisma and mystery in a partner, while men are often focused on physical attributes. Women have the capacity for multiple orgasms, while men are limited to one.

Foreplay and Sacredness. Men should approach lovemaking as an art, with foreplay and attention to the woman's entire body. Love should be sacred, not forced or rushed. The missionary position is criticized for its focus on male pleasure and disregard for female experience.

4. Revolt against imposed pain; embrace natural suffering with serenity.

Watch only that which cannot be changed.

Distinguishing Pain. Not all pain is created equal. Pain imposed by others, such as slavery or torture, should be actively resisted. However, pain that is a natural part of life, such as grief or physical discomfort, should be witnessed with serenity.

Rebellion vs. Acceptance. While acceptance can bring peace, it should not be a substitute for revolution. The woman needs revolt, not acceptance. One should revolt against all suffering that is imposed by anybody.

Self-Chosen Pain. Much of our pain is self-chosen, stemming from jealousy, anger, greed, and ambition. These self-imposed pains can be dropped simply through understanding. There is no need to watch.

Trust the Physician. Natural pain can be seen as a bitter potion administered by the physician within, healing our sick selves. Trust this process and drink the remedy in silence and tranquility.

5. True liberation is authentic womanhood, not male imitation.

Real liberation will make the woman authentically a woman, not an imitation of man.

Authenticity over Imitation. The current women's liberation movement often promotes imitation of men, such as smoking cigarettes, wearing pants, and adopting aggressive behaviors. This is not true liberation, but a deeper form of slavery imposed by women themselves.

The Woman's Role. Women are more important than men because they carry both genders in their womb and mother both boys and girls. If women are not free to be authentically themselves, men will never be free either.

Freedom for All. If you make somebody a slave, you will be reduced to slavery. If you want to remain free, give freedom to others. The woman needs total freedom so that she can give freedom to man too.

Subtle Domination. Even the strongest man becomes henpecked. A very thin, weak woman can dominate a very strong man simply by using Gandhian methods.

6. The liberation movement is a male conspiracy.

The liberation movement that is going on in the world is a man-created phenomenon, a male-created phenomenon.

Subtle Trickery. Man is trying to persuade women all over the world that the woman has to become independent. It is a subtle trick. The male mind is cunning and the male mind is succeeding. Now many women have become poisoned by this idea.

Equality as a Trap. Man has persuaded women in the past that they are pure beings, angels. Now, man would like to enjoy more women than just his wife. And the only way to have absolute freedom is to give absolute freedom to the woman.

Loss of Softness. The atmosphere is such that a woman has to be equal with man. She has not to be interested in the home, family, children, motherhood. She has to become interested in poetry, in literature, in painting, in science, in technology, this and that.

The Womb's Hankering. The natural is the womb in the woman -- that womb hankers for a child, that womb hankers for a home. The home is the visible womb outside the woman, it is a projection of the inner womb.

7. Differences are attractive, but shouldn't be used for condemnation.

Man and woman are neither equal nor unequal, they are unique.

Humanity First. Drop these ideas of being men and women! We are all human beings. To be a man or a woman is just a very superficial thing. Don't make much fuss about it, it is not anything very important; don't make it a big deal.

Psychological Types. The author is always talking about types; the gender is not included. Whenever he says "man" he means the man-type, and whenever he says "woman" he means the woman-type.

Unnecessary Trouble. The Women's Lib movement is creating unnecessary trouble. It is turning women into wolves, it is teaching them how to fight. Man is the enemy; how can you love the enemy?

Polar Opposites. When a real man comes in contact with a real woman, they are polar opposites, extremes. But only extremes can fall in love, and only extremes can enjoy intimacy. Only extremes attract each other.

8. Marriage, as an institution, is the ugliest invention of man.

Marriage is the ugliest institution invented by man.

Unnatural Bondage. Marriage is not natural; it has been invented so that you can monopolize a woman. You have been treating women as if they were a piece of land, or some currency notes. You have reduced the woman to a thing.

Promises for Tomorrow. You can be certain only of this moment that is in your hands. All promises for tomorrow are lies -- and marriage is a promise for your whole life, that you will remain together, that you will love each other, that you will respect each other till your last breath.

The Changing Flux. In a better, more intelligent world, people will love, but will not make any contracts. It is not a business! They will understand each other, and they will understand the changing flux of life.

Friendship is Key. Friendship is so valuable that whatsoever the consequence, remain friends even with your wife, even with your husband, and allow absolute and total freedom to each other.

9. Love is a state of being, not a targeted emotion.

Rather than saying that you love somebody, it will be better to say you are love.

Hierarchy of Love. Love exists on a hierarchy, from the lowest rung of power politics to the highest peak of superconsciousness. The nature of love depends on the individual's level of being.

Love as a State. At its highest, love is not a relationship but a state of being. It is unaddressed, unconditional, and given for the sheer joy of giving. This love is meditative and ecstatic, surpassing all other joys.

Transformation through Meditation. Love, as commonly known, is a disease that requires the medicine of meditation. Through meditation, love is purified and becomes more ecstatic.

The Secret Key. To transform your love, bring all motivations from the unconscious into the conscious. As motives become conscious, they disappear, leading to unmotivated love, the greatest thing that can happen.

10. Aloneness, not loneliness, is the path to self-discovery.

Aloneness is our very nature, but we are not aware of it.

Misunderstood Aloneness. We are born alone, live alone, and die alone. Aloneness is our true nature, but we often misunderstand it as loneliness, a negative state of feeling incomplete.

Escapism through Relationships. To escape the pain of loneliness, people seek relationships, families, and social connections. However, these efforts are often futile, as they fail to address the underlying misunderstanding.

The Meditator's Path. The meditator embraces aloneness, seeking to understand their true self in solitude. This path leads to the greatest blissfulness possible, as your very being is blissful.

Transformative Relationships. After finding your aloneness, you can relate to others from a place of wholeness, sharing your love and helping them discover their own treasures.

11. The pill is the greatest revolution in history.

In the past it was difficult, because making love meant more and more children.

Freedom from Biology. The pill has freed women from the constant cycle of pregnancy and childbirth, allowing them to pursue other avenues of creativity and self-expression.

Sex as Playfulness. With the fear of unwanted pregnancy removed, sex can be taken as playfulness, as fun. It is not sin, it is fun.

The Proletariat of the World. Just as Marx saw society divided into the rich and the poor, society is divided into man and woman. Man has remained the master for centuries, and woman the slave.

The Orgasmic Experience. The orgasmic experience is the experience of merging and melting, egolessness, mindlessness, timelessness.

12. Motherhood is a sacred art, not a biological duty.

To become a mother is one of the greatest responsibilities in the world.

Conscious Motherhood. One should knowingly become a mother. You are taking one of the greatest responsibilities that a human being can take. Men are a little freer in that way because they cannot take the responsibility of becoming a mother. Women have more responsibility.

Non-Possessive Love. Never treat the child as yours; never possess the child. It comes through you but it is not yours. God has only used you as a vehicle, a medium, but the child is not your possession.

Respectful Guidance. Treat the child as you would treat a grown-up person. Never treat a child like a child. Treat the child with deep respect. God has chosen you to be a host. God has entered into your being as a guest.

Listen to Nature. Don't listen to the morality, don't listen to religion, don't listen to culture -- listen to nature. Whatsoever is natural is good -- even if sometimes it is very difficult for you, very uncomfortable for you.

Last updated: March 14, 2025