The Klesha, Abhinivesha, is a very technical word. In the Yoga Sutras , the word Abhinivesha - is made of two words Abhi and Nivesha i.e. self-preservation. Abhinivesha means you don't want to accept change, you want status quo. It means you are established in Swarth-selfishness. It includes being established in one's opinions, not accepting change, and being fearful of change. It also includes fear of death and all other fears.
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We see in the world, selfishness is very strong. The entire society wants change, but one person will object and obstruct change. Sometimes, the entire road is made but one Jhopda (hut) will not move from there because they want certain benefits. This is nothing but self-interest and selfishness.
As we grow old, we become more knowledgeable. And slowly we form our own strong opinions likes, dislikes, rigidity with ideas; we are not open to see things as they are. “In my time, this was happening. now, this is wrong. This word "I know" is a very wrong word, because you may have known” but now things have changed, even you have changed. A simple thing as how to reach from one place to another place may require new directions. We feel “I know,” but if you come after one year, you'll find things have changed.
We have to understand that change also is part of life. It has to be taken positively, because change is always for the good. “I know nothing,” this feeling has to be developed. “Others are also equally wise and right, I am not right always.” Such lumility, acceptance has to come.
Strong opinions cause a lot of problems.
From this urge to hold on to one's own opinions, springs the fear of being criticized or fear of being judged, fear of hurting someone, in short, our various fears. It becomes a sort of a depressive approach to life.
Svarasavahi Vidusho Api Tatha Arudho Abhinivesha. Svarasavahi means flowing automatically. Vidushoapi means the wisest people. Tatha Arudho means being established in. So the Sutra says even the wisest person is automatically established in love of life. Even they would like to preserve themselves, their work, their name, their everything. "Even after I die also, you should know me," so they put up their own statues to remain immortal!
Abhinivesha shows itself in various ways, like in the famous example of the mother monkey saving her life at the cost of her baby. At such times when we have to choose between our life and death even the pure feeling of motherhood goes away! So, this love of life is seen in animals, but it is seen much more in humans. Humans, basically, are living a life of nothing else but fear. If you don't do Puja, God will punish you. We have fear of God, fear of death and fear of everything.
These Kleshas have to be totally eradicated. Because these are the things which cause pain and suffering in our life. We need to understand that Abhinivesha is a Klesha. Kleshas are vitiating factors which makes our life miserable. So we have to reduce this I-sense and sense of self-preservation. Somehow, we have to understand that there is nothing like me, mine. We should remember that we are part und parcel of this whole world. The world is running according to its own laws and we are a part of the entire machinery of the world. So we are important, but only a part of everything. And just like we do our part, so is the whole machinery doing its job. Everybody is there, so I get food to eat. That's why, instead of 'I', let us remember to use the term 'we'. Let us be part of the entire machinery and instead of me and mine, let us do a thing which is good for everybody, not just good for me and mine! If change is required because of a situation, we have to flow with the change. We cannot say, 'No, I will not change."
Let us develop the faith that whatever will happen, will happen for the good. God is there, He will take care.