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Osho on What does it mean to play with the devil?

What does it mean to play with the devil?

To play with the devil is to embrace your condemned energies with a light heart, transforming them from sources of conflict into pathways of strength and wholeness.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source definition
Core Insight:
According to Osho, to ‘play with the devilmeans stop fighting or taking evil within you seriously; the ‘devil’ is simply your condemned energies—sex, anger, greed. Seriousness feeds and solidifies them; playful awareness starves and reabsorbs them, ending inner civil war. Through non-serious, tantric playfulness, these energies integrate, dissolve, and become strength, bringing wholeness, peace, and transformation.
Don’t fight your “bad” feelings; treat them lightly and kindly, and they relax and join your side.
Why this matters practically
- Reduces obsession and fear by withdrawing attention from inner ‘enemies.’
- Turns difficult emotions into usable energy and creativity.
- Creates inner harmony, making you calmer and more present with others.
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