The Pancha Kleshas ( Five Poisons of Life): अविद्यास्मितारागद्वेषाभिनिवेशाः क्लेशाः॥2.3॥ _Patanjali Yoga Sutra The Sanskrit word klesha translates to “poison” or “affliction.” This term is used to denote specific negative mental patterns that obscure our true nature. The kleshas are considered the cause of suffering in yogic and Buddhist philosophy and are to be actively overcome. The five Kleshas are 🔸Avidya (ignorance), 🔸Asmita (egoism or I-am-ness), 🔸Raga (attachment), 🔸Dvesha (repulsion and aversion), and 🔸Abhinivesha (fear of death and the will to live). Avidya (ignorance) is the misconception of our true reality, believing that the temporary is eternal, the impure is the pure, and pleasure to be painful. This false and distorted representation of reality is the primary klesha. From avidya the four other kleshas emerge. Asmita (I-am-ness) is the identification of ourselves with our ego. We create a self-image of ourselves that we believe is us, but it is not us. This self-image can contain both external (I am poor) and internal (I am a bad person) false projections. We become trapped within the projections we have created of our life. Raga (attachment) is the attraction for things that bring satisfaction to oneself. Our desire for pleasurable experiences creates mindless actions and blind-sighted vision. When we cannot obtain what we desire, we suffer. When we do obtain what we desire, our feelings of pleasure soon fade and we begin our search for pleasure again, becoming trapped in an endless cycle. Dvesha (repulsion) is the opposite of raga, aversion towards things that produce unpleasant experiences. If we cannot avoid the things we dislike, we suffer. Even thinking about unpleasant experiences produces suffering. Abhinivesha (will to live) is the deepest and most universal klesha, remaining with us until our deaths. We know that one day we will indeed die, yet our fear of death is deeply buried in our unconsciousness. . . . . . . . #adiyogaschool #yogaphilosophy #patanjaliyogasutra #yogateachertraining #patanjali #philosophy #yogaeducation #lifelessons #yogaforeveryone #yogarishikesh #yogainindia #yogaashram (at Adi Yoga School) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnjMWLMvgNH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
