Kleshas: The Cause of Suffering
Kleshas are afflictions of the mind that are the roots of
suffering according to Patanjali's Yoga sutras. Suffering is a
mindset that is self induced. To attain the state of equanimity,
these kleshas has to be eliminated.
The Buddha says life is suffering; both the ancient yogis and the
Buddhists point to the kleshas as the causes of our suffering.
These "afflictions" distort our mind and our perceptions effecting
how we think, act and feel. The five main kleshas vary in
intensity on our psyche, from being inconsequential in their
effect to utter blindness. The kleshas not only create
suffering, but are said to bind us to the endless cycle of birth
and rebirth, and thus preventing us from achieving enlightenment.
Avidya (ignorance) is the misconception of our true reality,
believing that the temporary is eternal, the impure is the pure,
and pleasure to be painful. This false representation of reality
is the root klesha and produces the four others.
Asmita (I-am-ness) is the identification of ourselves with our
ego. We create a self-image of ourselves that we believe is us,
but it is not us. This self-image can contain both external (I
am poor) and internal (I am a bad person) false projections. We
become trapped within the projections we have created of our life.
Raga (attachment) is the attraction for things that bring
satisfaction to oneself. Our desire for pleasurable experiences
creates mindless actions and blind sighted vision. When we cannot
obtain what we desire, we suffer. When we do obtain what we
desire, our feelings of pleasure soon fade and we begin our search
for pleasure again, becoming trapped in a endless cycle.
Dvesha (repulsion) is the opposite of raga, aversion towards
things that produce unpleasant experiences. If we cannot avoid the
things we dislike, we suffer. Even thinking about unpleasant
experiences produces suffering.
Abhinivesha (will to live) is the deepest and most universal klesha, remaining with us until our deaths. We know that one day
we will indeed die, yet our fear of death is a deeply buried in
our unconsciousness.
The first stage of working with the
kleshas is to simply
acknowledge them. Reflection promotes self-awareness,
self-understanding and self-knowledge to uncover and see the
kleshas and their roots as well as how they create suffering.
The direct opposition of concentration and other yogic techniques
can counteract simple kleshas. Gross kleshas are overcome with
meditation, tapas and seeking wisdom. Yogic techniques are said
to burn away the impurities of the kleshas to purify the mind.
By ridding ourselves of our kleshas, we are able to clearly see
the reality of the world and our own true nature.
