Kleshas

The definition of yoga according to the yoga sutras of patanjali is YS1.2 yoga città vritti nirodha. Yoga is a state of mind that is completely still.

This is hard to achieve unless you become familiar with the fundamental forces that disturb the mind whose natural inclination is to be still and luminous. These forces  are the physiological mechanisms underlying the movements of the mind which we are attempting to still.

Patanjali lists these five fundamental forces calling them Kleshas which increase excess activity, lethargy or both, clouding the natural luminosity of the mind.

Vyasa in his commentary of the sutras says that the first Klesha, avidya is a perception in its own right rather than a lack of perception or knowledge. He give the example of someone walking in a garden and mistaking a rope for a snake, thinking we know something whereas that is not the case.

The next four evolve out of the previous one, ego, desire, aversion and fear. All are natural impulses which are nesscarsry for life but can become problematic when they become excessive. This excess can lead to actions that will cause suffering and be an obstacle to moving towards a state of concentration, wholeness and stillness.

The intention of yoga is to gradually cultivate wholeness and simutanouely reduce the strength of the kleshas which exist in the body as well as the mind. Yoga practice can help reduce the kleshas from overwhelming to intermittent, then to weakened and then finally to dormant. As the kleshas are reduced the mind gradually calms and becomes more luminous. 

As you know observing anything increases knowledge and familiarity of that subject.

A yoga practice is an ideal situation where we can give undivided attention to the body, breath and mind in order to know them better, reducing avidya

 For the beginner the body often feels like it operates as one component and as practice continues, familiarity grows and things about the body and its different components are noticed more. The kleshas gradually reduce and eventually return to their source (pratiprasava), so we are less distracted by them, better able to concentrate leading to an increased sense of wholeness.

As yoga is practiced questions may arise. 

 “What effect is this pose having on my breath pattern.”?

“Has my attention wandered or is it still resting on my body sensations and my breath”?

“Do I feel both supported and open in this pose”?

In this way also the kleshas can be noticed as and if they come up. Can I feel supported and comfortable here and do I notice if ego, desire, aversion or fear are present.