Kleshas

Patanjali identifies five kleshas—fundamental afflictions or distortions—that generate all emotional suffering: avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment), dvesha (aversion), and abhinivesha (fear of death/change). These aren't moral failings but psychological patterns that when recognized become workable. Understanding the kleshas creates a diagnostic framework for emotional regulation: when you feel emotionally dysregulated, you can trace it back to one of these root patterns. For example, anxiety often stems from dvesha (resistance to what is) combined with abhinivesha (fear of change), while emotional instability often derives from raga (clinging to pleasant experiences). By identifying which kleshas drive your specific emotional patterns, you gain precision in your regulation practices. This framework transforms emotional regulation from vague self-help into targeted psychological work rooted in ancient psychological wisdom.