Understanding the Roots of Suffering in Yoga
We all know what suffering feels like—whether it’s the sting of loss, the ache of loneliness, or the frustration of wanting life to be different than it is. Sometimes it’s obvious, like grief or heartbreak. Other times it’s subtle, like the quiet dissatisfaction that creeps in while scrolling through social media.
According to yoga philosophy, the roots of our suffering aren’t just found in the challenges we face, but in the way our minds interpret and react to them. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras point to five inner obstacles, called kleshas, that cloud our perception and keep us caught in cycles of pain. Understanding them is the first step toward freeing ourselves from their grip.
As mentioned in the previous post, suffering often appears in many forms. It may arise from physical pain, emotional hurt, or the loss of a loved one. Or it may show up more subtly like a sudden craving while scrolling through social media, irritation at a colleague’s success, or a quiet sense of being drained or hopeless. These experiences can trigger inner narratives where we blame our job, our family, our home, the weather, or even ourselves.
In daily life, suffering can show up in many forms. Have you ever felt a sudden craving while scrolling through social media—“I wish my life looked like that”—after seeing a friend’s dreamy vacation photo? Or perhaps irritation bubbled up when a not-so-friendly colleague announced a big promotion? Sometimes, the feeling is more subtle—like a sense of being drained or hopeless—leading to negative inner narratives where you blame your job, your family, your home, the weather, or even yourself.
Each of us experiences suffering differently. Some people seem to suffer more than others, even in similar situations. According to yoga philosophy, this difference arises not from the external events themselves but from the internal patterns of the mind called the kleshas (afflictions). It’s a negative mental state that affects how we perceive, react, and cling. In the next section, we’ll explore these five kleshas and see how they influence the way we experience life.
The Kleshas
Patanjali explains that the mind becomes clouded by certain mental and emotional afflictions known as kleshas. There are five kleshas in yoga that are considered the root causes of human suffering. They distort our perception of reality, block spiritual progress, and keep us trapped in cycles of pain and confusion.
These five kleshas are:
- Avidya (ignorance)
- Asmita (ego)
- Raga (attachment)
- Dvesha (aversion)
- Abhinivesha (fear)
Yoga Sutra 2.3 lists these five afflictions, while Sutras 2.4 through 2.9 explain each in detail—beginning with avidya, which serves as the fertile ground for the other four.
Breeding Ground for the Other Kleshas
Yoga Sūtra 2.4
Sanskrit:
Avidyā kṣetram uttareṣāṁ prasupta tanu vicchinnodārāṇām.
Translation (Sri Swami Satchidananda):
Ignorance is the field for the others mentioned after it, whether they be dormant, feeble, intercepted or sustained.
Explanation:
Avidyā (spiritual ignorance) is the root affliction, like the soil that nourishes and sustains other afflictions—ego, attachment, aversion, and fear—to grow. These kleshas may exist in different states:
- Prasupta (Dormant) – Sleeping seed
Example: You’re on a retreat, away from the city. You haven’t thought about sweets in days. The tendency is still there, but it’s dormant—like a seed waiting for the right conditions to sprout. - Tanu (Attenuated) – Thinned out
Example: You’re mindful of your health and sugar intake. Dessert crosses your mind but no longer has a strong pull. The klesha has weakened. - Vicchinna (Interrupted) – Broken pattern
Example: You’re on a sugar detox. Cravings come and go—you resist sometimes but give in at other times. The pattern is temporarily disrupted, but not resolved. - Udāra (Active) – Fully operational
Example: You pass a bakery and buy two pastries without a second thought, even if you feel guilty afterward. The klesha is in full bloom, actively shaping your choices.
Until ignorance (avidyā) is uprooted through Kriya Yoga, discriminative wisdom (viveka), and deep meditation, the kleshas continue to sprout and shape our experience of suffering.
Join me in the next post as we explore the first klesha, avidyā—the root of all suffering!
Key Takeaways
- Suffering is universal, but its roots lie not in external events alone, but in how the mind interprets them.
- The five kleshas (ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, and fear) are the inner causes of suffering.
- Avidyā (Ignorance) is the root of all kleshas—the fertile ground that sustains them.
- Kleshas can appear in four states: dormant, weakened, interrupted, or fully active.
- Kriya Yoga (tapas, svadhyaya, Ishvara pranidhana), along with discriminative wisdom (viveka), offers practical tools to weaken and eventually uproot these afflictions.
- By working with these teachings, yoga becomes not just a physical practice but a profound path of inner freedom.
Reference
- Satchidananda, Swami, editor. The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Translated by Swami Satchidananda, Integral Yoga Publications, 2012.