Kleshas: Five Root Causes of Attachment Suffering

Patanjali identifies five kleshas or mental afflictions that generate human suffering: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death). These five root causes directly illuminate attachment dysfunction. Anxious attachment stems from raga—desperate clinging born from ignorance about one's inherent wholeness. Avoidant attachment reflects dvesha—pushing away intimacy to avoid vulnerability and pain. Disorganized attachment emerges when fear of death (abhinivesha) combines with confusion about safety in relationships. Understanding attachment patterns through the kleshas framework reveals they're not character flaws but natural human responses to fundamental misunderstandings about self and connection. By identifying which kleshas dominate your attachment style, you target your inner work precisely. This ancient psychological map predates modern attachment theory by centuries, yet maps perfectly onto contemporary relational science.