As we continue our journey through Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sūtras, we remain within the framework of the kleśas, the mental afflictions that cloud our perception and keep us bound in patterns of suffering. The two we have explored in depth so far are avidyā and asmitā.

Avidyā (अविद्या) is misperception or ignorance—it is the fundamental misunderstanding of reality. It causes us to mistake the impermanent for the permanent, the impure for the pure, suffering for pleasure, and the non-Self for the Self.

Asmitā (अस्मिता) is egoism—the misidentification of the true Self (drg, the seer) with the mind and body (darśana, the tools of perception). It is the sense of "I-ness" that clings to roles, identities, and labels, mistaking them for our essence.

Today, we move forward to Yoga Sūtra 2:7, where Patañjali introduces another kleśa—rāga (राग), attachment.

We begin by looking at the Sanskrit word sukha (सुख), which means happiness or pleasure. It represents the pleasant experiences in life—the moments of comfort, joy, and satisfaction that we naturally seek.

But there’s another key Sanskrit term to consider here: anushayī (अनुशयी), which refers to the consequences of something that lingers or follows us. In this case, it is the attachment that arises as a result of pleasurable experiences.

That attachment is rāga (राग)—the tendency to cling to what feels good and to seek its repetition. We don’t just enjoy something in the moment; we become attached to it, and when it fades, we crave it again.

A prime example of this in our modern world is social media. Platforms are consciously engineered to trigger rāga—through likes, notifications, and endless scrolling, they feed our desire for validation, novelty, and dopamine hits. The cycle keeps us hooked, craving the next high, the next moment of pleasure.

Edwin Bryant translates this sutra simply:

"Attachment stems from experiences of happiness."

At its core, rāga is neither good nor bad—it is simply the tendency of the mind. The question is: how much power does it have over us?

So, what are you attached to?

What are the things, experiences, or outcomes that you find yourself chasing, believing they will bring you lasting happiness?

And can you observe them with awareness without being controlled by them?