Why Do We Resist What We Feel? Understanding Dveṣa

What if the greatest source of suffering isn't the pain you experience... but your resistance to it?

In this talk, we explore Dveṣa, the fourth of the five Kleshas described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Often translated as aversion, Dveṣa is the tendency to push away what feels uncomfortable, painful, or unwanted, creating an inner struggle that can be more difficult than the experience itself.

Through relatable stories, everyday examples, and the wisdom of Yoga Sutras 2.3 and 2.8, you'll discover how avoidance, resistance, and emotional reactivity quietly shape your thoughts, relationships, and decisions. More importantly, you'll learn how meeting life with openness rather than resistance can become a profound source of healing and inner peace.

Listen as a standalone reflection or pair it with the accompanying Yoga Nidra and poem on Dveṣa for a deeper experiential journey.

Transcript

This is a talk on Dvesha, One of the five glaciers and Dvesha translates to aversion. Let me start with something very simple. Have you ever tried? Not to feel something. Have you ever tried not to feel something? Maybe it was discomfort, Maybe anxiety, Maybe sadness, Maybe frustration. And the more you try to push it away. The stronger it became. So you distract yourself, You scroll, You stay busy or you try to move on quickly. But somewhere underneath. It's still there. And then, Something interesting happens. The discomfort isn't just there. Now there's also tension around it. Not just This is here. This should not be here. That's second Leo. That is where struggle begins. That is where the struggle begins. In yoga. The movement of pushing away this resistance to what is present is called Dvesha. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, We have We have the five kleshas, Avidya, Asmita, Raga, Dvesha, Abhinivesha. And in Chapter 2, Sutra 8. The Sej Patanjali has this phrase. It says, Which translates to Dvesa is the aversion to pain. Aversion to Pain Breaking it down very simply. Something feels uncomfortable. The mind remembers it. And the mind says, I don't want this. And from that moment. We begin to resist. Dvesa, This resistance to pain, This aversion, It shows up when you avoid difficult conversations. It shows up when you distract yourself from uncomfortable emotions. It shows up when you procrastinate on something that feels overwhelming. Or you judge a feeling instead of simply allowing it. Even subtly. When something small happens, There's an immediate internal reaction. This shouldn't be happening. The way saw. Is not pain. It is the resistance to pain. And here's what's interesting. Been on it soon. Is often temporary. But resistance is what keeps it alive. When we say this should not be here. We create tension. We create contraction. We create holding. And now, You're not just feeling something. You're also fighting it. So first we had only one problem and the problem was the pain that we are experiencing. Now we've just added a second problem to that. We've added the problem of constantly trying to fight that pain. So if Raga was reaching, Raga which was attachment. Dvesha is pushing away. And both these are movements away from presence. You can try this right now. At this moment. If you bring to mind something uncomfortable. Just take a moment and bring something uncomfortable to mind. Now notice the body. The Tightening. The closing, The pulling away. That movement. Is the base shot. And what is important? We are not trying to like discomfort. That is not the teaching. The invitation is to stop fighting. What is already here? Stop fighting it. Thank you for listening.