Kleshas: The Five Afflictions Behind False Beliefs

Patanjali identifies five kleshas or 'afflictions' that cloud human consciousness and generate false beliefs: avidya (ignorance), asmita (egoism), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death). These aren't moral failings but fundamental distortions in how consciousness perceives reality. Avidya, the root klesa, is misperception—seeing the temporary as permanent, the changing as fixed. From this fundamental ignorance, all limiting beliefs spring. A belief in scarcity often roots in avidya's failure to perceive abundance. Asmita generates identity beliefs. Raga and dvesha create polarized beliefs ('this is good, that is bad'). Abhinivesha underlies fear-based beliefs about safety. Understanding the kleshas provides a comprehensive map of belief formation. Rather than treating beliefs as isolated problems, this framework reveals the deeper psychological patterns they express. By working at the level of the kleshas—addressing fundamental ignorance, loosening ego-attachment, and examining fear—practitioners can transform not just individual beliefs but the underlying distortions generating them.