Klesha Framework: Root Causes of Psychological Suffering

The five kleshas—avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (craving), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death)—represent Patanjali's diagnostic system for human suffering. This framework remarkably parallels modern CBT conceptualization of psychological problems. Avidya corresponds to the cognitive distortions and beliefs underlying distress; asmita reflects identity fusion and self-worth dependent on external validation; raga and dvesha mirror approach-avoidance dynamics that maintain anxiety and depression; abhinivesha encompasses existential fears and catastrophic thinking. Where CBT focuses on specific presenting problems, the kleshas offer a deeper philosophical understanding of why humans suffer. Integrating this perspective helps therapists address not just symptoms but fundamental patterns of misperception and misidentification. Clients who understand their suffering through the kleshas framework may develop greater compassion for their struggle and clearer understanding of why particular cognitive-behavioral interventions address their root difficulties.