Kleshas: The Five Afflictions Generating Distortion

The kleshas are five fundamental afflictions that generate psychological suffering and cognitive distortion: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego/self-identification), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death/loss). Each klesha creates characteristic distortion patterns. Asmita generates distortions protecting your self-image (denying flaws, exaggerating strengths). Raga creates distortions around desired outcomes (magical thinking, minimizing risks). Dvesha generates distortions about threats (catastrophizing, overestimating danger). Understanding which klesha fuels your specific distortions provides targeted insight. A person prone to perfectionism might explore their asmita-driven need to maintain a flawless self-image. Someone constantly anxious explores how dvesha-driven threat-detection creates exaggerated danger narratives. Patanjali teaches that kleshas aren't eliminated but gradually weakened through practice, particularly meditation and developing viveka. By mapping your distortions back to the kleshas generating them, you work at the root rather than endlessly fighting surface symptoms.