5 Kleshas: Causes of Suffering & How to Remove Them

5 Kleshas: Causes of Suffering & How to Remove Them 

In Yoga Philosophy (Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, II.3), the Kleshas are the five root causes of suffering and mental afflictions. These are deep-seated patterns of ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, and fear, which prevent us from realizing our true nature (Atman).

To achieve inner peace and self-realization, we must identify and transcend these Kleshas through yogic practices, awareness, and wisdom.

The 5 Kleshas (Causes of Suffering)

Each Klesha is interconnected and forms the foundation of suffering (Dukha). Let’s explore them deeply and learn how to remove them.

Avidya (Ignorance – The Root of All Suffering)

Meaning: Avidya is spiritual ignorance—the misunderstanding that we are the body, mind, and emotions rather than the eternal, pure consciousness (Atman).

How It Affects Us?

• We believe temporary things(money, relationships, fame) will bring permanent happiness.

• We suffer because we identify with pain, pleasure, success, and failureinstead of seeing life’s impermanence.

How to Remove Avidya?
Jnana Yoga (Self-inquiry & Study of Scriptures) – Read Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads.
Practice mindfulness & self-awareness – Question your thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions.
Meditate on “Who am I?” – Realize you are not the body or mind, but pure consciousness.

Realization: When Avidya dissolves, true wisdom (Jnana) arises, and suffering disappears.

Asmita (Ego – The Illusion of “I”)

Meaning: Asmita is the ego (false sense of self) that separates us from others and the universe.

How It Affects Us?

• We attach labelsto ourselves: “I am rich/poor, successful/failure, smart/dumb.”

• The ego craves validation, superiority, and control, leading to pride, comparison, and suffering.

How to Remove Asmita?
Practice humility & selfless service (Karma Yoga).
Let go of attachment to identity – You are NOT your career, wealth, or status.
Surrender ego to the divine (Bhakti Yoga) – Realize all is interconnected.

Realization: When Asmita fades, we experience oneness, peace, and unity with all beings.

Raga (Attachment – The Craving for Pleasure)

Meaning: Raga is clinging to desires, people, and material things as sources of happiness.

How It Affects Us?

• We chase pleasure (sensory, emotional, material)and suffer when it’s lost.

• We fear changebecause we are attached to comfort, relationships, and success.

How to Remove Raga?
Practice detachment (Vairagya) – Enjoy life without clinging.
Gratitude & contentment (Santosha, Niyama) – Appreciate what is instead of craving what isn’t.
Self-discipline (Tapas) – Train the mind to find peace in stillness, not in external pleasures.

Realization: When Raga disappears, we become free from desires and emotional turmoil.

Dvesha (Aversion – The Fear of Pain)

Meaning: Dvesha is hatred, fear, or resistance to people, situations, or experiences we dislike.

How It Affects Us?

• We resist uncomfortable truths, challenges, and growth.

• We become angry, fearful, or bitterwhen things don’t go our way.

How to Remove Dvesha?
Practice acceptance & equanimity (Ishwarapranidhana) – Trust that life unfolds as it should.
Face your fears with courage – What we resist, persists.
Forgive & release negativity – Holding onto hate only harms us.

Realization: When Dvesha disappears, we experience inner peace and resilience.

Abhinivesha (Fear of Death – The Clinging to Life)

Meaning: Abhinivesha is the deep-seated fear of death, loss, and the unknown.

How It Affects Us?

• Fear of aging, sickness, and uncertaintycauses anxiety.

• We avoid taking risks or embracing change.

How to Remove Abhinivesha?
Practice surrender & trust (Bhakti Yoga) – Accept that death is a transition, not an end.
Live fully in the present moment (Mindfulness & Meditation).
Overcome fear with wisdom (Swadhyaya, Study of Scriptures).

Realization: When Abhinivesha dissolves, we live fearlessly and embrace the flow of life.

How to Overcome the Kleshas? (Practical Guide)

By practicing Yoga, Meditation, Self-awareness, and Wisdom, we can purify our minds, break free from suffering, and realize our true, infinite nature (Atman).