The kleshas are taken from chapter 2 of Patanjali’s yoga sutras.
The topic of Chapter 2 is Sadhana: defined as means/ instruments / realisation , (of Yoga).
Heres some basics and terminology that start this chapter:
Kriya Yoga (technique for union) consists of three aspects
Tapas: sustained practical application of the teachings,
Svadhyaya: Personal study, your body your breath, the nature of reality, the sacred texts.
Ishvara pranidharna: transfer of identity to the ultimate or infinite.
The purpose of Kriya yoga is for Realising Samadhi: to come to know the ultimate/infinite self
AND, to reduce the Kleshas: The root causes of suffering or corrupted forces. Now that sounds like something we could all use a good dose of on planet Earth right now.
There are 5 Kleshas, that when corrupted increase our suffering
The first of the Kleshas Ignorance occurs when there are some fundamental facts and contributing factors to a given situation that are being Ignored. Ignorance forms the basis for all the rest : Asmita ( I amness) , Raga ( Passion) , Dvesha (distaste) , Abhinivesha (clinging to life) .
Klesha One Avidya: Ignorance Or Absent wisdom
This world is complex, the ability to zone in and out certain details is essential. But if we become wilfully Ignorant, unwilling and unable to see beyond our own limited point of view we will eventually find ourselves in suffering. Reality is always greater, more complex, and more fascinating that you can fully comprehend and that’s a good thing.
When I find myself slipping into suffering, asking the question “What am I ignoring / ignorant of here?” helps me find solid footing. Maybe the answer is as simple as the breath, maybe it’s the fact that life is always only a temporary gift.
Most suffering is caused by identifying with my minds Ideas about how things should be rather than how they are. The invitation of a yoga practise to engage the mind in the immediate sensory input of the body and breath in Motion. This anchors the mind back in the present, back in a direct relationship with reality as it is.
The wisdom of life lives in you, in your body in your breath. When we absent our awareness from perceiving these small everyday miracles it’s easy to lose track of what’s real, what important and where our attention is best focused.
Here are some yoga techniques we used to ground awareness in the real.
1) The four-part Breath
2) The relationship with Gravity
3) The relationship between effort and ease
4) the alignment of feet pelvis chest and head
BONUS Credit: Make a list of the things in your life that bring you to presence and awe, you can use this as a reminder when you need it. When you’re in distress it’s harder to see what it is you might be ignoring.
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