Patanjali's five kleshas (afflictions) function as root cognitive distortions that generate all secondary mental suffering and behavioral problems.
Patanjali identifies five fundamental kleshas (afflictions): avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego/false identity), raga (attachment/craving), dvesha (aversion/rejection), and abhinivesha (fear of death/fundamental insecurity). These operate like CBT's core beliefs—deep convictions that generate surface-level automatic thoughts and behaviors. Avidya parallels cognitive distortions rooted in fundamental misperception; asmita corresponds to rigid identity schemas; raga and dvesha represent approach-avoidance patterns driving compulsive behavior. Abhinivesha underlies existential anxiety. While CBT typically addresses surface thoughts and intermediate beliefs, Patanjali's kleshic framework invites deeper work with foundational convictions. A person with depression might have surface thoughts ("I'm worthless") but the root kleshic distortion involves asmita—defining oneself through external performance. By identifying which kleshas drive a client's suffering, therapists can target interventions more precisely. This ancient classification system enriches CBT's cognitive hierarchy, enabling practitioners to address not just thoughts but the fundamental perceptual distortions generating psychological distress.
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