Patanjali identifies five root psychological afflictions (kleshas) that underlie addiction, providing a diagnostic framework for understanding addiction's psychological origins.
Patanjali's yoga psychology identifies five kleshas (afflictions): avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego-identification), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death). Each klesha drives addictive behavior. Avidya represents the fundamental misunderstanding that substances will bring lasting happiness. Asmita is ego-identification with addiction ('I am an addict'). Raga manifests as craving and attachment to the substance's effects. Dvesha appears as aversion to difficult emotions or situations that triggers escape through use. Abhinivesha emerges as existential anxiety that substances temporarily numb. Effective recovery addresses all five kleshas rather than just managing behavior. A Patanjali-informed approach recognizes that superficial interventions failing to address underlying afflictions have limited success. By understanding which kleshas most powerfully drive an individual's addiction, treatment becomes personalized. Someone dominated by dvesha needs emotional processing skills; someone driven by asmita requires ego-dissolution practices; someone rooted in avidya needs wisdom teaching about true fulfillment. This framework transforms addiction treatment from punishment to enlightened psychological work.
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