Yoga sutra 2.03
Avidya asmita raga dvesha abhinivesha pancha klesha
The sources of afflictions are: misapprehension, egotism, excessive desire, repulsion and anguish
Here Patanjali outlines five obstacles (Kleshas) on the path to Samadhi. The main obstacle is ignorance (Avidya) as the other obstacles flow from ignorance.
Avidya / Ignorance: is the root of all the other Kleshas. It is not ignorance in an intellectual capacity but in the sense that you are oblivious of your true nature. Once on the path of yoga you begin to learn to centre yourself and start to realise that the centre of your being is not your mind.
Asmita / Ego: meaning a false sense of self/pride, the identification with ‘I’, ‘me’ and ‘mine’.
Raga / Desire: meaning attraction/attachment. For example, your spiritual growth should be cultivated without attachment to the outcome.
Dvesha / Aversion: includes hatred and resistance. For example, when anger (which is a weakness) clouds your judgment
Abhinivesha / Fear of Death: This can also be translated as fear of the unknown. You should always try to live dangerously, that is put yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Damian Cadman-Jones is an authorised teacher of Prana Vashya Yoga™