Klesa: The Five Afflictions Root Bias

The Kleshas are five fundamental mental afflictions that Patanjali identifies as the root causes of all mental suffering and distortion. These are: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death/change). Rather than viewing cognitive biases as random errors, the Yoga Sutras recognize them as symptoms of these deeper afflictions. Ignorance creates confirmation bias and false belief. Ego drives overconfidence and defensive reasoning. Attachment creates motivated reasoning toward desired outcomes. Aversion generates avoidance bias and denial. Fear fuels catastrophizing and risk aversion. Every specific bias maps to one or more kleshas. By addressing the root afflictions rather than surface symptoms, Patanjali offers a comprehensive framework for bias transformation. Modern psychology often treats biases individually, but the Yoga Sutras suggest tackling their shared emotional and existential roots. Understanding the five kleshas provides a unifying theory of cognitive distortion and a pathway to systematic correction.