Patanjali describes five afflictions that disturb the balance of consciousness.
These are known as the Kleshas.
They are avidya-ignorance,
Asmita-ego,
Raga-attachment,
Dvesa-aversion and abhinivesha-the fear of losing life as we know it.
According to the lineage,
These afflictions reside in different spheres of our being.
Avidya and asmita-ignorance and ego-belong to our intelligence and the conscious front brain.
Raga and dvesa-attachment and aversion-are seated in the base of the brain,
The hypothalamus governing our emotions.
And abhinivesha-the instinct to survive-is rooted in the old brain or back brain.
When these afflictions become excessive,
The mind gradually loses its balance and clarity.
The sadhaka,
The practitioner,
Learns to recognize these disturbances early,
Before they grow stronger and disturb the equilibrium of consciousness.
Without awareness,
We can easily become carried away by attachment,
Fear,
Pride or emotional reactions.
But yoga teaches us to observe these tendencies carefully and to meet them with steadiness and discipline.
Awareness does not remove human emotion,
But it helps prevent the mind from becoming completely controlled by it.
Slowly,
Through practice,
We begin recognizing the difference between reacting unconsciously and responding with clarity.
Practice helps us stay steady and awake.
Namaste.
