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Osho on What is licentiousness in life?

What is licentiousness in life?

Licentiousness is the mind's reaction to repression, a swing to the extreme; true freedom lies in awareness, where desire is neither suppressed nor compulsively indulged.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source definition
Core Insight:
According to Osho, licentiousness is the mind’s swing to one extreme—an unrestrained, reactionary indulgence born from repression—just as insane as suppression itself. Both create each other like a pendulum. He doesn’t advocate either pole; instead he urges awarenessseeing directly, beyond beliefs—so intelligence finds a sane, balanced way of living where desire is neither repressed nor compulsively gratified.
Licentiousness is going wild because you were forced to be too strict; Osho says skip both and stay aware so you act wisely.
Why this matters practically
- Avoid swinging between guilt and excess; choose mindful balance.
- Use awareness, not beliefs, to guide choices about sex, food, and pleasure.
- Reduce inner conflict and dependence on dogmas or extremes.
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