Kleshas

Klesha (devanāgarī: क्लेश, kleśa) is a Sanskrit term used in yoga philosophy, meaning a "affliction" or "causes of suffering." The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (second chapter, third śloka) describe Five Afflictions (Sanskrit: pañcakleśā):

अविद्यास्मितारागद्वेषाभिनिवेशाः पञ्च क्लेशाः॥३॥

Avidyāsmitārāgadveṣābhiniveśāḥ pañca kleśāḥ

These five kleshas are:

- Ignorance (āvidyā): Taking the non-eternal, impure, evil and not-self to be eternal, pure, good and self respectively

- Egoism (asmitā): The identification of the perceiving consciousness with the instrument of perception (mind).

- Attraction (rāga): That which follows after pleasure.

- Repulsion (dveṣa): That which follows after pain.

- Attachment to life (abhiniveśāḥ): The strong desire for life which dominates even the learned.