Kleshas as Root Causes of Attachment Wounds

Patanjali identifies five kleshas or fundamental afflictions that obscure our true nature and create suffering: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment/desire), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of dissolution). These operate at deeper levels than surface attachment behaviors. Avidya manifests as not knowing our own worth, leading to anxious seeking of external validation in relationships. Asmita appears as defensive ego-protection through avoidance. Raga emerges as desperate clinging to partners. Dvesha creates reactive rejection of intimacy. Abhinivesha drives the panic of abandonment. Rather than treating attachment issues purely through behavioral or cognitive restructuring, recognizing these kleshas points to their root causes. This allows genuine transformation: healing the ignorance about our worth, softening the defensive ego, releasing desperate grasping, and addressing the existential fears that drive attachment desperation. Working with the kleshas addresses attachment at its source.