Causes of Pain or Klesha in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra

Introduction

In the second chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, known as Sadhana Pada, the sage identifies five fundamental obstacles called kleshas. These kleshas are distractions or afflictions that impede progress on the spiritual path and are considered the root causes of human suffering. Patanjali explains that unless these kleshas are recognized and gradually dissolved, the practitioner cannot attain the clarity and purity of mind required for samadhi.

The Five Kleshas are Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism), Raga (attachment), Dvesha (aversion), and Abhinivesha (fear of death). Among them, Avidya is regarded as the root cause, giving rise to the others. When these kleshas manifest strongly, they appear in their gross form, obstructing the yogi’s journey toward liberation.

The Five Kleshas

1. Avidya (Ignorance): Avidya is the misperception of reality, the inability to see things as they truly are. It is the fundamental ignorance that causes one to mistake the transient for the eternal, the impure for the pure, and the painful for the pleasurable. Patanjali identifies Avidya as the root of all other kleshas.

2. Asmita (Egoism): Asmita is the false identification of the self with the mind, body, or senses. It is the sense of “I-am-ness” that leads to pride, separation, and attachment to individuality, obscuring the realization of pure consciousness.

3. Raga (Attachment): Raga refers to craving or clinging to pleasurable experiences. This attachment binds the mind to desires and creates dependency on external conditions for happiness.

4. Dvesha (Aversion): Dvesha is the repulsion or rejection of experiences perceived as unpleasant. It manifests as hatred, anger, or avoidance, keeping the mind disturbed and restless.

5. Abhinivesha (Fear of Death): Abhinivesha is the instinctive clinging to life and the fear of death. It is deeply rooted even in the wise, reflecting the natural tendency of the mind to resist change and dissolution.

Reducing or Removing Kleshas

On the yogic path, Patanjali emphasizes that nothing is truly destroyed but rather dissolved back into its source. Faults, impurities, and negative impressions must be returned to their origin, while positive impressions and virtues should be cultivated and expressed.

This process is facilitated through Kriya Yoga, which consists of tapas (discipline), svadhyaya (self-study), and Isvara pranidhana (devotion to God). By practicing Kriya Yoga with detachment, the yogi weakens the grip of the kleshas. When the five kleshas, along with the mind itself, merge back into prakṛti (nature), the yogi becomes free from impurities and attains samadhi.

Removing Kleshas with Meditation

When kleshas appear in their gross form strong and expansive they require deliberate effort to be reduced. Kriya Yoga helps to make them subtle, but nearly eliminating them demands deeper practice. This is achieved through meditation (dhyana).

Meditation cultivates one-pointed awareness, bringing the chitta (mind-stuff) into complete focus. By steadying the mind, the yogi dissolves the influence of ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and fear. Over time, meditation purifies consciousness, allowing the practitioner to transcend the kleshas and rest in pure awareness.

Conclusion

The Five Kleshas Identified in Sadhana Pada Avidya, Asmita, Raga, Dvesha, and Abhinivesha are the root causes of pain and distraction on the yogic path. Patanjali teaches that by practicing Kriya Yoga and meditation, these afflictions can be reduced, dissolved, and ultimately transcended.

When the kleshas merge back into their source, the yogi becomes free from impurities and attains samadhi. Thus, the removal of kleshas is not merely about overcoming obstacles but about returning to the natural state of pure consciousness, the ultimate goal of yoga.