We continue our journey through the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, diving deeper into the kleśas, the mental afflictions that cloud our perception and keep us trapped in cycles of suffering. We’ve been working through these for the past couple of weeks, and today, we focus on Sūtra 2.10, which tells us that the kleśas must be dissolved at their root to be eliminated.
Yoga Sūtra 2.10 states:
"te pratiprasava-heyāḥ sūkṣmāḥ"
"The subtle afflictions (kleśas) should be resolved by reversing their development."
This verse is profound because it tells us that simply addressing our afflictions on the surface isn’t enough. Unlike their gross manifestations, which appear in our emotions and behaviors, their subtle (sūkṣma) forms are deeply embedded in the subconscious mind. This means that superficial solutions—like temporarily suppressing anger, distracting ourselves from pain, or trying to force positive thinking—will never truly free us.
Instead, we must reverse their development through pratiprasava, which means “reverse birthing.” This is the process of unwinding our conditioned patterns, tracing them back to their source, and dissolving them at their root. In essence, we work backward from our suffering, peeling away the layers of attachment (rāga), aversion (dveṣa), fear (abhiniveśa), and ego (asmitā) until we reach the fundamental misunderstanding at the core—avidyā (ignorance).
At its heart, avidyā is the mistaken belief that we are our thoughts, body, emotions, or external circumstances. Avidyā or ignorance is the primary force drives the kleśas, distorting our perception of reality. And because it operates so subtly, it often goes unnoticed. But when we look closely at our reactions, patterns, and attachments, we see how deeply ingrained this ignorance is in our daily lives.
This is where Sūtra 2.11 gives us a key tool:
"dhyāna-heyāḥ tat-vṛttayaḥ"
"The states of mind produced by the kleśas are eliminated through meditation."
Meditation (dhyāna) is not just a practice of relaxation—it is a method for clearing out the mental noise and accessing the deeper layers of our psyche where the subtle kleśas reside. It gives us a space of awareness where we can observe these patterns without identifying with them. Over time, this awareness dissolves the kleśas at their origin, leading us closer to the goal of yoga.
And let’s recall what that goal is—Sūtra 1.2:
"Yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ"
"Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind."
The kleśas are precisely what disrupt this stillness, keeping us entangled in mental noise, emotional turmoil, and suffering. Through meditation and self-inquiry, we gradually free ourselves from their grip. But this isn’t just about spiritual liberation—it applies to everything in life. Whether you’re an athlete, a musician, a writer, or just navigating the challenges of daily life, practice is never overrated. Intentional practice—whether in yoga, meditation, or any discipline—trains us to recognize and transform our habitual reactions.
On a side note, it's important to clarify: samādhi is not the goal of yoga; it is a tool along the path. True yoga is about seeing ourselves clearly, freeing ourselves from suffering, and living with wisdom and awareness. Meditation is one of the most powerful tools we have for this. It sharpens our viveka (discriminative wisdom) and helps us break free from unconscious conditioning.
Tomorrow, we move into karma—a natural extension of today’s discussion. If our past actions, shaped by the kleśas, have influenced where we are today, how do we start consciously shaping our karma to create freedom instead of more suffering? And what role does self-awareness play in breaking these cycles?
Until then, breathe, observe, and practice.
