Explore the 5 Kleshas

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08/10/25

Explore the 5 Kleshas

Explore the Second Klesha – Rāga

After Avidyā (ignorance) and Asmitā (ego), the third of Patanjali’s five Kleshas is Rāga, or attachment. Rāga arises from our longing to repeat pleasurable experiences or hold onto what feels good. It’s the mind’s habit of saying “I want more of this, I can’t let it go.”

On the surface, attachment may seem harmless and even natural. We crave the post-yoga glow, the comfort of familiar routines, the security of relationships or possessions. Yet, when we cling too tightly, Rāga becomes a source of suffering. Life is constantly shifting, and when the objects of our attachment change or fade, we’re left unsettled, resistant, or disappointed.

Yoga teaches us to enjoy life’s sweetness without grasping. Each breath, each posture, each season is an invitation to presence and to fully experience life in this moment. Yoga invites us to practice non-attachment—to fully experience life’s sweetness, then let it go with ease. What joy can you savor today, without grasping to keep it?

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