Kleshas: The Five Root Biases

The kleshas are five fundamental afflictions in Patanjali's psychology: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death). These function as root biases generating all other cognitive distortions. Avidya, fundamental misperception of reality, is the source bias from which all others spring. Asmita, ego-identification, creates self-serving biases and false consensus effects. Raga, attachment to pleasure, generates optimism bias and confirmation bias favoring desired outcomes. Dvesha, aversion to pain, produces defensive biases and threat-amplification patterns. Abhinivesha, existential fear, underlies status quo bias and mortality salience effects. By mapping cognitive biases to these root kleshas, we understand their deep psychological origins. This framework shows that isolated bias-correction is insufficient; lasting change requires addressing the fundamental psychological patterns beneath surface biases. Patanjali's kleshas offer a coherent system for understanding why people cling to distorted thinking despite evidence against it: each bias serves a klesha-based survival or identity function.