When you’re angry, afraid, ashamed, guilt-ridden, depressed or jealous life gets hard. So, we spend our time trying to find a life that is free from those feelings that drag us down.
In this series on yoga philosophy, I’m sharing millennia old wisdom that helps give shape to the things that we struggle with and provides guidance. Sometimes having a new perspective to look at our lives with can be the key to what we need.
Today I’m sharing the kleshas with you. Kleshas are mental states that cloud your mind and show up in your life in unhealthy ways. Klesha is a Sanskrit word that translates to “poison” or “affliction”. Cheerful, right?
Think about it though, if you’re ill and you don’t know what is afflicting you, it’s hard to treat it. You might take some stabs in the dark and get lucky, or you could make it worse. It’s the same with your mind. Know what is poisoning you so you can find the right antidote.
THE FIVE KLESHAS
There are five kleshas that distort your mind and perceptions, affecting how you feel, think, and act.
Avidya (ignorance)
Asmita (egotism)
Raga (attachment)
Dvesha (repulsion or aversion)
Abhinivesha (fear of death)
Take a moment to think about your life and your reaction to each of these. When has…
Ignorance, misconceptions or even a lack of understanding of your “true self” gotten in the way of life?
Your ego reared up and caused you pain or caused you to behave selfishly?
Your attachment to things, people, or ideas kept you stuck?
An aversion to or avoidance of the world kept you from growing?
A fear of death or loss kept you from living?
Discomfort in some form is a part of life, but extended pain is not necessary. If your perceptions keep you held frozen in pain, the only one who will be able to help you out of that state is you.
AVIDYA (IGNORANCE)
When we apply avidya to your inner self it implies a lack of understanding of who you are, what you are, and how you are. If you can’t answer these questions about yourself, you will stumble aimlessly through life trying to live other people’s lives because you don’t know what yours is meant to be.
When we apply it to the world it implies a distorted view of everything around you. This creates conflicts between you and the world because you will keep trying to work with something that isn’t real based on your perceptions, not evidence.
ASMITA (EGOTISM)
Asmita causes you to be overwhelmed with your personal issues which create suffering. This klesha causes you to be self-focused and self-centered by turning in on yourself. The insecure person who feels everyone is always talking about her is lost in her ego and fear, when the reality is that some people will talk about her at times, but no one is as consumed with her as she is.
RAGA (ATTACHMENT)
This is the opposite of the yoga yama aparigraha (non-attachment) which you can read more about in the first installment of this series. Raga causes you to desire things at such a high level that you are in pain if you don’t have them, and yet, when you get them the pleasure of the achievement is short lived and you are on to the next thing, always feeling unsatisfied.
DVESHA (REPULSION OR AVERSION)
With devesha you experience the urge to get away from people, thought, feelings and general discomfort to such a degree that you hide and avoid in unhealthy ways. This can lead to addictions like drugs, alcohol, shopping, sex, social media, or any other thing you might become lost in, in an effort to get away from the discomfort.
ABHINIVESHA (FEAR OF DEATH)
Interestingly enough it is your strong desire to be with people and things you love and enjoy that creates the fear of death or loss that is abhinivesha. Death is a great unknown, and unknowns are generally scary for human beings. We all have some fear of death. It’s the excessive fear that controls you that creates pain and suffering in the now.
OVERCOMING THE KLESHAS
When you become lost in your kleshas you will experience some of the following:
An unclear picture of the people and things around you.
Painful emotions like fear, shame, and anger.
Never feeling at peace within yourself.
An inability to be introspective or insightful.
An inability to have a happy, contented life.
And, now that I’ve left you feeling hopeless in the face of all of this pain, let me give you some ideas as to how you can move forward in life regardless of your kleshas.
Yoga philosophy is excellent because it doesn’t offer up all of the barriers in life without the solutions. What that means is that following the yamas and niyamas from the Eight Limbs of Yoga is your roadmap. Use them to balance yourself.
The yamas are restraints, which you need when facing painful feelings that push you into unhealthy actions.
Ahimsa (non-violence) – Consciously not bringing harm to yourself or others through thoughts, words or actions.
Satya (honesty) – When you are dishonest with yourself or anyone else you remain ignorant of your kleshas and therefore have no ability to do anything about them.
Brahmacharya (moderation) – Excess of feelings, actions, etc., are what the kleshas essentially are, so, seeking a middle path of moderation leads to greater peace.
Asteya (non-stealing) – Stealing is about more than material possessions, it’s also about time, kindness, clarity, or anything else that you can deny or take away from yourself or others.
Aparigrapha (non-attachment) – Attachment leaves you vulnerable to a person, thought or thing, and gives it control over you instead of you having control over it.
The niyamas are inner-observances and your duties to yourself, which offer concrete direction and inspiration to counter your kleshas.
Saucha (cleanliness or purity) – Think of purity as simplicity. Kleshas cloud your mind and complicate everything. Give yourself permission to slow down, and simplify your thoughts, and actions.
Santosha (contentment) – This is a state of being most of us are striving for. You have to accept that you are allowed to be contented, you have permission to feel satisfied, and you have the right to be at peace.
Tapas (discipline) – None of this happens without some self-discipline. So, we work on slowly increasing the thoughts and actions that bring greater and greater discipline to our lives and gently damp down the kleshas.
Svadhyaya (self-study) – Self-awareness. Take a look at yourself. Know yourself. Learn more about yourself through reading, podcasts, blogs, or anything else that helps you deepen your understanding of who you are.
Isvara Pranidhana (letting it go to a higher power) – Whatever your interpretation of a “higher power” might be doesn’t matter. What matters is the idea of letting go of the need to have control. Trusting that your life will work out even if you don’t have a death grip on controlling everything around you.
MOVING KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION
Now it’s time for you to take steps in your own life. Take control instead of waiting for the actions of others to dictate your existence.
To understand more about yoga philosophy check out the other entries in the Yoga for Your Heart and Soul series: Yamas, Niyamas, Gunas.
And when you’re ready for a guide on your journey, reach out to me to begin your Integrative Life Coaching where we will create balance for you and a life you love.