Klesas as Unconscious Attachment Drivers

Patanjali identifies five klesas (afflictions) that create all psychological suffering: avidya (ignorance), asmita (egoism), raga (attachment/craving), dvesha (aversion/rejection), and abhinivesha (fear of annihilation). These operate as invisible engines driving insecure attachment patterns. Anxious attachment stems from excessive raga—craving connection while fearing loss. Avoidant attachment emerges from dvesha—rejecting intimacy from fear of engulfment. Disorganized attachment reflects unresolved abhinivesha and asmita. Patanjali's framework illuminates that attachment insecurity isn't relational failure but ignorance about the true nature of connection and self. By identifying which klesas dominate one's attachment style, individuals can apply targeted practices to dissolve them. The klesas framework suggests that secure attachment requires progressively reducing these afflictions through awareness and practice. Understanding parents' klesas reveals intergenerational transmission of insecure patterns. This model transforms attachment therapy from behavior modification into systematic purification of the root misconceptions generating relational suffering.