Kleshas: The Five Afflictions Fueling Addictive Cycles

Patanjali identifies five fundamental afflictions—avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death)—that are the root of all suffering. These five directly operate in addiction. Avidya creates false beliefs about the substance; asmita makes the person identify with being an addict; raga is the craving itself; dvesha is the desperate avoidance of discomfort that drives use; abhinivesha is the existential anxiety that fuels escape through substance. Rather than viewing addiction as a single disorder, Patanjali's framework reveals it as a complex of five interrelated afflictions. This is clinically useful: recovery can target each specific klesha through appropriate practices. Reducing avidya requires education and cognitive work; addressing asmita involves identity reconstruction; raga and dvesha require emotional regulation; abhinivesha demands existential meaning-making. This comprehensive map prevents fragmented treatment and reveals why single-intervention approaches often fail. Understanding the five kleshas provides a complete diagnostic and therapeutic framework grounded in ancient psychology yet applicable to contemporary addiction treatment.