Patanjali's framework identifying five fundamental mental afflictions—ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, and fear—as sources of all emotional disturbance.
Patanjali identifies five kleshas (afflictions or obstacles) that generate emotional suffering: avidya (ignorance of true nature), asmita (ego-identification), raga (attachment to pleasure), dvesha (aversion to pain), and abhinivesha (fear of death/dissolution). This ancient diagnostic system reveals that most emotional dysregulation originates from these five root causes rather than external circumstances. Understanding the kleshas provides emotional regulation practitioners with a precise map of internal obstacles. When anger arises, one can trace it to asmita (wounded ego) or dvesha (resistance to what is). Anxiety often stems from abhinivesha (fear of dissolution). By identifying which kleshа is active, practitioners gain leverage for transformation. Rather than fighting emotions directly, addressing the underlying kleshа creates lasting change. This framework teaches that emotional regulation is fundamentally about clarifying perception and untangling identification patterns, moving from reactive conditioning toward conscious choice and authentic response grounded in truth.
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