Klesas

APHORISMS FROM PATANJALI’S YOGA SUTRA
AND TRANSLATIONS
From The Essence of Yoga by Bernard Bouanchaud ; The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar and Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar



1.2 Yogah citta-vrtti-nirodhah
Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.

1.3 tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam
With the attainment of focused mind, the inner being establishes itself in all its reality.


The way we perceive things today is not the same as the way we saw them yesterday. The situations, our relationship to them, and we ourselves have changed in the meantime.
Yoga subscribes to the notion that deep within us is something that is very real, but unlike everything else, doesn’t change – purusa – meaning “that which sees”. Purusa denotes the position from which we can see; it is the power in us that enables us to perceive with accuracy.
When we practice asana, we carry out actions that are not determined by our habits, and yet are still within our range of ability. We specifically direct our attention to actions or places to which we are not conditioned turning our attention. Through this process, systematically going through a sequence, practicing with our body, our breath and our attention, the mind clears a little. We free ourselves from being bound by habit. With clearer perception, one may decide to make adjustments to his/her yoga practice, relate with a loved one differently, or change how one reacts in a stressful situation.
The practice of yoga encourages unhampered seeing to simply happen. When we feel quietness deep within us we know we truly understand. This kind of understanding can have a strong, positive effect on our lives by leading us to right actions. This true understanding does not occur spontaneously. It comes with practice. It comes in waves of clarity alternating with waves of cloudiness. Overtime there will be less cloudiness and more clarity.
Avidya is a word which describes the cloudiness or false perception.

The Klesas are the “turnings” of the mind which cloud our perception. They are as follows:
Avidya – false perception, ignorance
Asmita – ego
Ragas – attachment
Dvesa – aversion
Abhinivesa – fear

The practice of yoga is a practice in settling these klesas which turn the mind. The mind becomes quiet, the purusa can perceive with accuracy.

“Yoga is not passive. We have to participate in life. “
T.K.V. Desikachar