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Roots of Suffering

  • Writer: Cliff Dahlberg, MSW, LGSW, LADC
    Cliff Dahlberg, MSW, LGSW, LADC
  • Jun 24
  • 2 min read
To stop suffering, let go of suffering.
To stop suffering, let go of suffering.

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, five root causes of suffering are described—called the kleshas. These afflictions cloud our perception, distort our thinking, and keep us trapped in patterns that cause pain. Understanding them doesn’t just explain why we suffer—it shows us how to begin freeing ourselves.

Here are the five kleshas:

  1. Avidya (Ignorance or Misperception)


    This is the root of all other kleshas. Avidya isn’t just not knowing—it’s misunderstanding the nature of reality. It’s the confusion that arises when we mistake the temporary for permanent, the impure for pure, the painful for pleasurable, and the not-self for the self. Avidya is what keeps us grasping for things that can’t truly satisfy, and resisting what could actually help us grow.

  2. Asmita (Ego or False Identification)


    Asmita is the belief that “I am this thought, role, emotion, or label.” It’s the tendency to identify with our mental constructs—like “I am a failure” or “I must always be strong.” When we cling to a fixed identity, we lose access to the spaciousness of being and get stuck defending or proving a limited version of ourselves.

  3. Raga (Attachment or Craving)


    Raga is the pull toward pleasure—wanting to hold onto experiences, people, or outcomes that feel good. On the surface, this seems harmless. But clinging creates suffering, because all things change. When we depend on external conditions for our happiness, we’re constantly anxious about losing them.

  4. Dvesha (Aversion or Resistance)


    Dvesha is the flip side of raga—the push away from pain. We resist discomfort, avoid difficult emotions, and reject anything that threatens our sense of control. Ironically, this resistance intensifies the very suffering we’re trying to escape. True peace comes not from pushing things away, but from learning how to meet them with awareness.

  5. Abhinivesha (Fear of Change or Death; Seeking permanence)


    This is the deepest and most instinctive klesha: the fear of letting go, of change, of death—literal and symbolic. It’s the grasping that keeps us stuck in survival mode. Even advanced practitioners can struggle with abhinivesha, because it’s wired into our nervous system. But recognizing it helps us live with more courage, presence, and grace.

The kleshas are not “bad” or shameful—they’re part of being human. But when we become aware of them, we can begin to loosen their grip. Through practices like meditation, breathwork, self-inquiry, and mindful living, we create space between stimulus and response. We begin to see clearly, identify less, crave less, resist less, and fear less.

With practice the kleshas lose their power. And in that space, something else can emerge: wisdom, compassion, and a deeper sense of freedom—not from life, but within it.

 
 
 

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Please Note: If you are contemplating suicide or are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 9-8-8.

 

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© 2025 Cliff Dahlberg 

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