Kleshas: The Five Afflictions Underlying OCD

Patanjali identifies five kleshas—fundamental afflictions or distortions—that cloud consciousness: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego-identity), raga (attachment/craving), dvesha (aversion/rejection), and abhinivesha (fear of death). OCD can be understood through this framework. Avidya is the basic misunderstanding that thoughts need response. Asmita creates an identity around 'I'm someone with OCD.' Raga manifests as craving for certainty and relief. Dvesha appears as intense rejection of intrusive content. Abhinivesha underlies existential OCD fears about meaning and death. Rather than treating OCD as isolated symptoms, Patanjali's lens shows interconnected psychological roots. A person with contamination OCD has aversion (dvesha) to dirt, attachment (raga) to purity, and ignorance (avidya) about actual risk. Working with these underlying kleshas—especially avidya and asmita—addresses the deep structure, not just surface symptoms. As you recognize these patterns, you can work directly with them: questioning the ignorance, softening the identity, loosening the attachments and aversions. This addresses why willpower alone fails; true transformation requires examining these foundational misconceptions.