Kleshas as Core Cognitive Distortions

Patanjali identifies five kleshas or afflictions: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego-identification), raga (attachment/craving), dvesha (aversion/avoidance), and abhinivesha (fear of death/change). These aren't mere philosophical abstractions but descriptions of habitual mental patterns remarkably similar to cognitive distortions CBT targets. Avidya parallels cognitive fusion and black-and-white thinking; raga underlies behavioral patterns of pursuing unreliable relief; dvesha appears as avoidance and safety behaviors; abhinivesha manifests as catastrophizing and intolerance of uncertainty. By understanding these kleshas, CBT practitioners recognize they're working with universal human patterns, not individual pathology. The systematic approach Patanjali prescribes—progressively identifying and loosening each klesa's grip—mirrors CBT's staged work: building awareness, challenging core beliefs, experimenting with new behaviors, and integrating change. This philosophical framework provides clients with normalized language for their struggles while offering a comprehensive map of psychological obstacles and the disciplined practices required to transcend them.