“Is complete SEXUAL abstinence necessary for transmutation and is SEXUAL abstinence, in general, useful for work on oneself?” we asked him. Fragments: Twelve

“Here there is not one but a number of questions,” said G. “In the first place SEXUAL abstinence is necessary for transmutation only in certain cases, that is, for certain types of people. For others it is not at all necessary. And with yet others it comes by itself when transmutation begins. I will explain this more clearly. For certain types a long and complete SEXUAL abstinence is necessary for transmutation to begin; this means in other words that without a long and complete SEXUAL abstinence transmu-tation will not begin. But once it has begun abstinence is no longer necessary. In other cases, that is, with other types, transmutation can begin in a normal SEXUAL life — and on the contrary, can begin sooner and proceed better with a very great outward expenditure of sex energy. In the third case the beginning of transmutation does not require abstinence, but, having begun, transmutation takes the whole of SEXUAL energy and puts an end to normal SEXUAL life or the outward expenditure of sex energy. Fragments: Twelve

“Then the other question — ‘Is SEXUAL abstinence useful for the work or not?’ Fragments: Twelve

“It is impossible to say. I repeat that while a man does not know it is better for him not to attempt anything. Until he has new and exact knowledge it will be quite enough if his life is guided by the usual rules and principles. If a man begins to theorize and invent in this sphere, it will lead to nothing except psychopathy. But it must again be remembered that only a person who is completely normal as regards sex has any chance in the work. Any kind of ‘originality,’ strange tastes, strange desires, or, on the other hand, fears, constantly working ‘buffers,’ must be destroyed from the very beginning. Modem education and modem life create an enormous number of SEXUAL psychopaths. They have no chance at all in the’ work. Fragments: Twelve

“Speaking in general, there are only two correct ways of expending SEXUAL energy — normal SEXUAL life and transmutation. All inventions in this sphere are very dangerous. Fragments: Twelve