Patanjali's five kleshas (afflictions) identify the existential confusions—ignorance, ego, craving, aversion, and fear of loss—that fuel insecure attachment patterns.
Patanjali identifies five kleshas (afflictions or obstacles) as the root causes of human suffering: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (craving/attachment), dvesha (aversion/rejection), and abhinivesha (fear of death/loss). These kleshas manifest powerfully in insecure attachment. Avidya manifests as misunderstanding one's lovability; asmita as false identity dependent on another's validation; raga as desperate clinging to partners; dvesha as flight from intimacy; abhinivesha as terror of abandonment. Securely attached individuals have worked through these kleshas—they understand their inherent worth independent of relationships (countering avidya and asmita), pursue connection without desperate clinging (balanced raga), embrace vulnerability without reactive avoidance (balanced dvesha), and accept relationship impermanence without existential panic (processed abhinivesha). Patanjali teaches that recognizing these afflictions is the first step to liberation. Attachment healing involves identifying which kleshas drive your particular patterns, understanding their origin in early relational experiences, and gradually dissolving them through practice, wisdom, and compassionate awareness. As kleshas diminish, secure attachment naturally emerges.
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