Music is behind life and rules life; from music springs all life. The whole of creation exists in rhythm. And in a general phrase it may be said that there is one common source of human disease, and that is disorder in rhythm. Rhythm is broken by congestion; and again rhythm is broken when activity goes beyond the boundaries of normality. For it is a phenomenon of activity that it produces energy of itself. In any activity, in walking, in speaking, in thoughts and imaginations, activity increases with its own energy; so that the speed at the end is greater than the speed at the beginning, until the climax when it bums itself out. Also activity gains energy when caught into the speed of a greater activity. Riding quietly along a road one finds that one's horse will break into a canter if other horses go cantering past.

Perverted desire originates in the debauched, in whom normal desire lives on after physical energy has been spent; and in the physically abnormal and incapable. It originates also in the normal person who is deprived of natural expression. When it arises, the effect is that the normal rhythm of health is broken.

Amongst the former are usually those whose mission in life it is to corrupt others; for just as the spiritually-minded wish to lead others to a spiritual view of life, and the materially-minded enjoy life more when they draw others into their circle of gaiety, so also the pervert desires to spread his influence. The perverted have their own groups and recognize each other.

Amongst the latter, that is those in whom natural expression is denied an outlet, are found some who have ideals of life, and who are above all reproach; their hidden practice may seem quite powerless to break down or injure character, and therefore it may appear quite harmless. But it seems impossible to find any case where health and mind are not affected; for mental despair arises, or confusion or indecision; or else a physical ailment of a nervous kind; or else a state of mind develops which in its turn produces physical disorder. And here we must reflect that modern science has perhaps still to study the effect of emotion on the blood; this seems to be still a somewhat unexplored field in modern medicine.

The artist stands in opposition to nature. It is true that art is nature in miniature; but there is always a tendency in the artist, as he observes nature, to run counter to nature. He observes and molds and creates and improves and originates; and that is why there is always a tendency in him that leads him away from the natural course of things; that is why perversion is often found among artists.

But playing with passions and the unnatural expression of passion seems to exist in all countries and at all times; it is never quite uprooted, although it always creates a strong feeling of revulsion.

Creator and creation, thus goes the natural rhythm of things; nowhere in nature is there room for an intermediary between these two.

Vol. 3, Life's Creative Forces: Rasa Shastra

17. Perversion

ii

Vol. 3, Life's Creative Forces: Rasa Shastra

17. Perversion

ii