Patanjali identifies five kleshas (afflictions) that distort perception and behavior; understanding these root causes reveals why addiction develops and persists.
The five kleshas—avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death)—are the fundamental mental distortions that Patanjali identifies as sources of all suffering. Addiction is built upon these foundations. Avidya manifests as the false belief that the substance will deliver happiness. Asmita appears as ego defending the addict identity. Raga drives the craving and attachment to the high. Dvesha creates aversion to discomfort, driving escape behaviors. Abhinivesha underlies the panic of facing life without the crutch of addiction. By studying each klesha within addiction's context, practitioners gain precise insight into why the pattern persists. Recovery requires addressing not just the behavior but the misconceptions fueling it. Meditation on the kleshas—seeing them clearly in the mind—gradually weakens their hold. This is deeper work than symptom management; it is psychological transformation at the root.
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