Kleshas: The Five Political Afflictions

Patanjali identifies five kleshas (afflictions): avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of change). These directly manifest in political psychology as the root causes of polarization and dysfunction. Avidya manifests as ideological certainty divorced from reality; asmita as the politician's narcissism and defensive ego; raga as clinging to political power or tribal identity; dvesha as the demonization of political opponents; and abhinivesha as institutional resistance to necessary change. Understanding these afflictions as universal human patterns rather than character flaws of opponents enables compassion while maintaining clarity about harmful ideologies. In political psychology, recognizing kleshas provides both diagnostic and transformative value: diagnosing why individuals and groups behave destructively, while simultaneously suggesting that these patterns can be transcended through greater awareness. This framework reframes political conflict not as a battle between good and evil but as a psychological struggle within human consciousness that can be resolved through wisdom and disciplined self-observation.