Patanjali's identification of the five root afflictions that generate all suffering, including the psychological mechanisms underlying addiction.
The kleshas—avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death)—form the foundation of Patanjali's psychology. Each actively generates addiction as a mental health condition. Avidya is the fundamental misunderstanding that substances solve problems; asmita is the false identity as an addict; raga is the craving and attachment to the substance's effects; dvesha is the aversion to discomfort that drives escapism; abhinivesha is the existential anxiety that addiction temporarily masks. Patanjali's genius is identifying that these are not character flaws but universal mental afflictions that manifest differently in each person. Addiction research confirms this psychology: addiction involves distorted thinking (avidya), identity problems (asmita), intense desire (raga), intolerance of negative affect (dvesha), and existential anxiety (abhinivesha). The kliesha framework reframes addiction as a systematic misalignment of perception and motivation rather than moral failure. Recovery involves gradually dissolving each kliesha through practice: developing clear perception, distinguishing self from patterns, cultivating equanimity toward desires and discomforts, and developing existential meaning. This comprehensive model addresses addiction's multifaceted nature.
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