klesha

Klesha is a Sanskrit term used in Indian philosophy, particularly in Yoga and Samkhya, referring to a mental affliction or impediment that obscures knowledge and binds a person to suffering. The word comes from a root meaning to injure or trouble, indicating that these afflictions distort perception and hinder spiritual clarity.

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, five primary kleshas are identified as the root causes of bondage and misperception: avidya, asmita, raga, dvesha, and abhinivesha. Avidya denotes ignorance or misapprehension about the true nature of reality, especially the distinction between purusha (conscious self) and prakriti (the material world). Asmita refers to egoism or the misidentification of the self with the body or mind. Raga is attachment to pleasurable experiences, while dvesha is aversion or hatred toward unpleasant ones. Abhinivesha is the fear of death or clinging to life, which drives clinging behavior.

These kleshas are described as the underlying causes of mental afflictions, leading to distorted judgment, restless emotion, and actions that perpetuate suffering and karmic bondage. They are traditionally addressed through yoga practice and ethical cultivation, including the yamas and niyamas, disciplined practice (abhyasa), and the development of vairagya (detachment) and viveka (discrimination). Through sustained practice, awareness, and alignment with a higher truth, the grip of the kleshas can be weakened, enabling greater mental clarity and potential liberation.