Kleshas: The Five Afflictions and Emotional Roots

The kleshas—avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death/change)—are the five root causes of suffering in yogic philosophy. Understanding these provides psychological depth to DBT's skill-building. Emotional dysregulation often stems from avidya (misunderstanding emotional reality), raga (grasping for unwanted emotions to end), or dvesha (violent rejection of difficult feelings). Patanjali teaches that suffering arises not from emotions themselves but from fundamental misunderstandings about their nature. In DBT terms, this maps to cognitive distortions and emotion myths. Identifying which kleshashape an individual's dysregulation—whether rooted in misunderstanding, ego defensiveness, or fear—allows for more targeted intervention. Rather than treating dysregulation as merely a symptom to eliminate, the kleshas framework helps address the underlying ignorance perpetuating the cycle. This philosophical foundation transforms DBT from symptom management into a path of genuine insight and transformation.