In today's episode we will look at the mental afflictions known as kleshas or afflictions. These afflictions permeate our existence and prevent us from making that connection with our higher self. The physical practice of yoga does help us feel better in our bodies and this can indeed help us feel better mentally. But does it completely solve our suffering? We still bump up against ourselves and our habits that prevent us from going further. The mind is continuously under the influence of the kleshas, the 5 afflictions that are at the root of our suffering. Tune into Episode 6 to learn what these kleshas are and how they effect us.
Why can't the mind be made steady with a bit of effort?
The mind is continuously under the influence of the kleshas, the 5 afflictions that are at the root of our suffering.
The Yoga Sutras is a text of small phrases that some call the first yoga psychology book. It is believed to have been written about 2000-2500 years ago by a sage know as Patanjali. In chapter two we learn about the kleshas, these afflictions of the mind. There are 5 and they "devolve" in a sort of chain reaction.
Avidya – ignorance; absence of self-awareness
Vidya means knowledge. Not the knowledge that comes from books, but the knowledge of the higher reality. Avidya means the lack of knowledge or ignorance. It is to mistake the world around us as "all there is."
We lose the connection with our soul, our eternal, true, pure nature. , the non-eternal, impure and material realm as for the eternal, pure, and the vidya, the knowledge, the soul.
With this disconnection from the eternal flow, we turn our awareness fully to what we are without it – an individual. And this results in…
Asmita – I-feeling; sense of "I am"
A sense of "I am" is required to live in the world, but because of it we become fully identified with my mind and my ego
I am this and you are that – hmmm you are different than I am….can I trust you?
A further sense of separateness evolves – a further sense of being alone which makes us seek out comfort
This results in…seeking pleasure
Raga – liking and pleasure
When we like thinks and feel pleasure we want more. We seek more things to lie, more pleasure and the desires strengthen, especially the desire for happiness.
This happiness is not internal, it is transient, so we have to keep looking for more outside of ourselves.
Inevitably, in so doing we also learn there are many things or situations that bring the opposite…
Dvesa – dislike and pain
We don't like pain. We try our best to avoid it. We are repulsed by any thing or anyone that brings pain into our lives.
We may even begin to find that even the things that we like have an undercurrent of pain flowing beneath the surface – the pain of fear – fear that the pleasure is going to end!
At this point we are so attached to our likes and dislikes, attached to our own body and mind that what if it all just went away? What?! Yes, what if we die? Well, I've got news for you…we are all going to die, but until then we will most likely cling to life with our last shred of awareness because of…
Abhinivesah – fear of death; clinging to bodily life
This goes beyond a desire to live – this is a fear that has arisen because we are so attached and cling to all that is material, all that we perceive through the senses and mental connections with the world around us.
Is this how you want to live the rest of your life? Is it even possible to change?
Well, it you interested in changing then we begin the process be reversing the chain reaction. In the Yoga Sutras it clearly says that the path is difficult, and this requires extensive inner work through pratyahara (sensory withdrawal) and meditation, as well as practicing non-attachment and discernment in the outer journey.
Otherwise, there's really little chance of connecting with your higher Self if it's all about me and mine. If you are continually trying to find pleasure and avoid pain. It's not enough to simply speak of enlightenment or your divine nature. Are you able to manifest that attitude, your eternal divine nature, when you see something you desire on sale? When someone accuses you of something untrue?
So, we don't even attempt to eliminate the kleshas, but we begin the process by thinning them and making them less sticky. So we begin with abhinivesah, the fear of death.
The cycle of birth, life, and death is a normal cycle within nature. In the time it's taken to listen to this podcast you've replaced more than a billion cells in your body. It's estimated that we replace about 300 million cells per minute. So much of us is dying right now and so much is regenerating. Our cells don't fear dying.
One way to work with our fear of death is by chanting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra – the mantra to overcome death. It is really not about overcoming death, rather it is to overcome the fear, to connect with our eternal nature to release the fear.
One line in the mantra translates that "may I be like a ripe cucumber that releases from its creeper with ease." The line is symbolic of how we should let go when death comes for us.
We chant this mantra every Saturday at the Atma Center from 4:30-5 PM. Join us. We have phonetic chanting sheets. Then once you learn it you might want to consider chanting it every morning a few times before you get up.
Next we work on dwesha – our dislikes.
It is said in yoga that it's harder to give up the things we dislike than the things we like. That may not seem quite right to you, so I'll say it again. It's easier to give up the things we like than the things we dislike. Think about it. If you have a great experience, how many people do you tell? How long do you sit with it in your mind? But if you have a terrible experience, how many people do you tell? How long does it keep coming up in your mind? It's more likely that you speak of your dramas rather than your moments of equanimity and peace – more likely to ruminate about the pains of life rather than ruminate about the joys.
So we need to learn methods to become less attached – to practice being the witness – the seer of the experience separate from the experience itself. The practice of Antar Mouna or Inner Silence is an excellent practice to cultivate the space necessary to separate the awareness from the ruminating mind and bring it into harmony with the higher mind, the witnessing aspect.
Then moving on to raga – our likes.
We utilize the same concepts as we have with our dislikes, but now we have to come to the realization that the happiness and pleasure that we seek is transient. It doesn't mean that we stop enjoying life. In fact, with a better understanding that pleasure is transient, then we can more easily let it go and more fully appreciate it while it exists.
Here we practice being fully present in the moment of pleasure and let it go with appreciation.
Here the practice of pratyahara, sensory withdrawal is of great use. Practices of pratyahara include yoga nidra and certain meditations. In these practices we start to realize how good we can feel without "feeding the senses" to feel good.
Asmita- the sense of I -ness, serve, love and give.
You don't have to go volunteer at a charity to serve others. Let someone out into traffic, open a door for someone to go in ahead of you, do random acts of kindness, especially if you can do them with anonymity.
Love as much and as often as you can. Not just people, but love the beauty of nature, an inspiring story, a hot shower on a cold morning. Open the heart and see how much love comes out.
Give – money is energy and we all have more than we think. We may be reluctant to donate $5 to a good cause but don't think twice about spending $5 on a double shot latte with 2 pumps of whatever! Give of your time. Give an ear to listen to someone in need.
Avidya or ignorance is last
But you can start to thin this by connecting with your spirit, your soul.
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Join a community of seekers.
As you can see, the process of thinning the kleshas involves some on the mat practice of meditations, but a lot of off the mat practice within your life. Let me know if I can be of help.
To follow along on social media, find me on Instagram at @atmarupasaraswati and on Facebook at Swami Ji, the OG.
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