God means absolute energy, infinite energy. God cannot be economical. He has so much, so infinitely much, that he can only play. And this play goes on and on, there is no end to it. There cannot be because the energy is infinite. And you cannot ask “Why?” Energy moves, there is no “Why?” to it. If God created the world you can ask, “Why? Why have you created the world?” But if he is simply playing you cannot ask “Why?”

When you also become a player, you become divine. If you are a worker you are human; if you are a player you have become divine. Then you share in the game. That’s why we have called Krishna the absolute avatar. We have not called Ram the absolute avatar, we call him a partial avatar – a partial coming of the divine to the world. But Krishna we call an absolute coming. The difference is that Ram is serious. He is still utilitarian, end-oriented: this is right and that is wrong. Only in work do right and wrong exist: this should be done and that should not be done, this is good and that is bad. For Krishna everything has become a play so everything is arbitrary – just rules of the game.

If you follow the rules, and if you follow them knowing that this is a game and that the rules have to be followed, it is good. If you don’t follow, nothing is wrong; really, you are playing the reverse game of not following. If you obey, you follow the game of obedience; if you don’t obey, you follow the game of disobedience, the game of rebelliousness. But nothing is wrong. What you want to play is your choice. And if you are not serious and are happy whatsoever you do, you are enlightened.

There are rules because a game has to be played with others. If you are playing alone there is no question of rules; then you can change your rules any moment you like. But because you are playing with others, rules have to be followed so that you can play with them. There isn’t any other reason behind it. Morality is a rule, love is a rule, society is just a rule – agreed-upon rules that we are going to play a game so we will agree. If you don’t want to play the game then you can be rebellious, but don’t be serious about it. Then play the game of being rebellious. And if someone kills you, murders you, or crucifies you, you know that you were playing the game of a rebellious leader, so you have been killed. There is no condemnation. You were not with the established rules, so the established rules were against you – it is okay. Then nothing is wrong, and you don’t have to complain.

Once you become aware that the concept of work, utility, reaching somewhere, the goal, is the bondage, it doesn’t mean that you stop playing the dame in the market – you go on playing. But you know that this is a game. It doesn’t mean that you divorce your wife – you go on playing the game of marriage. But know well that this is a game. Don’t get serious about it. And if you want to play the game of divorce, you can play it, but remember, don’t get serious about it. Divorce or marriage – these are alternative games; being a worldly man or becoming a sannyasin – these are alternative games. But don’t be serious about it. Be light-hearted, festive. And whatsoever you choose, you can play; and whatsoever consequences follow, you will welcome them because there is nothing serious about them.