Patanjali Yoga Sutra Transcribed from Pa risamvad at The Yoga Institute.
Chapter 2, Sutra 3
Avidya-Asmita-Raga-Dvesa-Abhinivesa-Klesah
Avidya: ignorance
Asmita: I-ness, ego sense
Raga: attachment
Dvesa: aversion
Abhinivesah: fear of death, clinging to life
Klesah: painful, afflicted
The Afflictions Are Ignorance, Egoism, Attachment, Aversion And Love Of Life
Listen to the audio:
Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:
“Kleshas cause pain and they are right form the start of life. We are born with Kleshas. And the only way to overcome them is through right knowledge.”
Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:
“One point is clear that everybody has Kleshas. And the main Klesha is Avidhya – ignorance. We don’t have right knowledge. Because of ignorance, the second one comes, i.e. ego – Asmita. Only an ignorant person would be egoistic. And Kleshas are those which will bring us back to all the pain and suffering and diseases in life. No one wants pain and all the research all over the world is done so that we are pain-free and we lead a happy, peaceful, healthy life.
An ignorant person only can be egoistic, because otherwise there is no scope for ego in life. There is hardly anything in our hands. Situations are happening and we have to handle it. We get strength and nutrition from Nature. So what are we egoistic about? So ego is the outcome of Avidya. The third one is Raga- attachment which is an outcome of ego. An egoistic person would behave such – me and mine, I am attached to this, I hate this, I love this…Dvesha is again the same thing. Naturally when you get attached to something, you hate something else. So finally Abhinivesha – love of your own life, fear of death and all other fears come.
Every human has all these five Kleshas. That’s what is mentioned here. The point is, the entire spiritual path talks of removing the Kleshas. Till then one cannot reach the highest. Even a little Klesha can bring you back to square one. All the efforts will go away if we don’t work on Kleshas. You may do any amount of Asanas, Pranayamas or meditation, but these Kleshas are going to bring you down. Kleshas are impurities in our personality and so we have to remove impurity, then only can we acquire knowledge.”
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About Parisamvad
On every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, The Yoga Institute, Santacruz holds Parisamvad sessions – Free interactive sessions that are open to all. These session begin at 7:20 am and end around 7:45 am.
The Friday Parisamvad is dedicated to explanation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by our esteemed Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji.
All are welcome to attend.