Explore the 5 Kleshas

Explore the First Klesha – Avidya

In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Avidya is identified as the first and most fundamental of the five Kleshas, or causes of suffering. Often translated as “ignorance,” Avidya is more accurately a lack of right knowledge or a distortion in perception. It’s when we mistake the impermanent for permanent, the impure for pure, the painful for pleasurable, and the non-self for the true self.

This kind of misperception clouds our ability to see ourselves, others, and life clearly. It’s subtle and often unconscious, which makes it both powerful and transformative when we begin to recognize it in our practice. Each breath, posture, and moment of stillness becomes a tool to reconnect with clarity.

This month, ask yourself: What unexamined beliefs might be shaping your experience? Where can you soften your grip on certainty to make space for truth, peace, and joy?

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