Patanjali's diagnostic framework of five root psychological patterns (ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, fear) that mindfulness systematically addresses.
The kleshas—ignorance (avidya), ego-identification (asmita), attachment (raga), aversion (dvesha), and fear of annihilation (abhinivesha)—comprise Patanjali's diagnostic psychology. These five patterns generate all psychological suffering. Mindfulness as psychological intervention works by directly illuminating these mechanisms. Avidya involves misidentifying with transient mental patterns; mindfulness reveals the impermanent nature of thoughts. Asmita creates suffering through ego-investment; mindfulness develops witness consciousness transcending identification. Raga and dvesha represent the push-pull of desire and resistance; mindfulness interrupts reactive cycles. Abhinivesha—fear of non-existence—underlies existential anxiety; mindfulness reveals the continuity of being beneath fear. This framework provides clients with a coherent psychology explaining their suffering. In clinical contexts, diagnostic assessment often involves identifying which kleshas dominate: trauma typically involves asmita and abhinivesha; depression involves avidya and dvesha; addiction involves raga. Tailored mindfulness practice addresses specific klesha patterns. This diagnostic sophistication makes Patanjali's system remarkably aligned with modern psychopathology while offering direct, practice-based remediation rather than mere conceptual understanding.
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