Klesas: The Five Afflictions and Core Beliefs

The five klesas (afflictions) in Patanjali's system are avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego/false self), raga (craving), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death). These represent fundamental misunderstandings about reality that generate suffering. In CBT terms, these parallel core beliefs—the deep-seated assumptions about self, others, and world that organize thinking patterns. Avidya resembles the depressive core belief 'I'm helpless,' asmita relates to perfectionist self-judgment, raga and dvesha drive compulsive and avoidant behaviors. Patanjali's genius was identifying that surface symptoms stem from these deeper distortions. A client with social anxiety might have surface thoughts about embarrassment, but the klesa underneath might be asmita (shame about self) combined with dvesha (aversion to judgment). By mapping symptoms to klesas, practitioners and clients understand why simple thought-stopping fails; they must address foundational beliefs. Patanjali's framework validates CBT's focus on identifying and restructuring core beliefs, showing that lasting change requires working at the deepest level of cognitive organization.