Weakening Kleshas

Introduction

The first 11 of the 55 sutras in Book Two of the Yoga Sutra are devoted to kleshas and Kriya Yoga (of which one purpose is to weaken kleshas).

These sutras — and the many expert commentaries on them — are fairly clear in regard to kleshas and Kriya Yoga in general. However, we found the commentaries on Sutras 2.10 and 2.11, which prescribe processes for weakening kleshas, much harder to penetrate.

We ultimately broke the teachings down into smaller pieces in an attempt to convey them with clarity. Here are the topic categories you’ll find below:

1. Kleshas Have Stages or Intensities
2. Manifesting Obstacles Are Removed by Meditation and Kriya Yoga
3. In their Potential State, Obstacles are Addressed Through Involution and Discrimination

Kleshas Have Intensities

• Kleshas have stages (intensities). Different experts use different words to describe the stages.
• Experts vary on the number of stages they discuss—from two to four.
• At minimum, kleshas are described as being latent (potential) or manifesting (action).
• Manifesting thoughts have been put into action, such as a person in a fit of anger.
• In reducing kleshas, we first control manifest actions, and then move toward the more subtle in an effort to destroy the potential.
• Some of the words used to describe the stages are not easily understandable, perhaps because they are the most direct translation of the sutra. For example: “attenuated,” “intercepted,” and “alternating.” Therefore, we made sure to feature some readings that use simpler terms such as “subtle” and “active.”

RICHARD FREEMAN EXPLAINS

It is said the kleshas can be either manifest—that we are aware of the confusion and pain they cause and the sense of separateness and ego, grasping, revulsion or fear we may feel—or that they may be non-manifest, experienced as emotions or discomfort we do not clearly identify with a root cause. – Richard Freeman 

COMPLETE ELIMINATION MEANS DEALING WITH TWO PROBLEMS

In the case of a person who is in a fit of anger it is easy to see that dvesha is in full operation. The same person, when he subjects himself to a rigid self-discipline, acquires the capacity to keep himself absolutely calm and without repulsion towards anyone and thus reduces this klesha to a potential condition. Dvesha has ceased to function but its germs are still there and—given very favourable conditions—can be made active again… The transition from the fully active to the perfectly dormant condition takes place through a number of stages… Through the practice of Kriya Yoga they can be attenuated progressively until they become quite dormant, incapable of being aroused by ordinary stimuli from the external world. But given extraordinary conditions they can be made active again. So we have to deal with two problems in the complete elimination of the kleshas, first to reduce them to the inactive or suksma state and then to destroy even their potential power. – I.K. Taimni

B.K.S. IYENGAR

Afflictions are of three intensities: gross (sthula), subtle (suksma), and the subtlest of the subtle (suksmatama). Tapas, svadhyaya and Isvara pranidhana eradicate the gross, the subtle, and the subtlest afflictions respectively. – B.K.S. Iyengar 

DEEP AND SUBTLE

From avidya to abhinivesha is the evolutionary process, while from abhinivesha to avidya is the involutionary process. There are various stages in both the processes, such as subtle, active and so on… The five kleshas have four stages each, namely latent, attenuated, alternating and active. This happens like a stream coming out of a mountain and gradually becoming larger and larger. When a river merges in the ocean, it is very big. The kleshas also grow in their force, like a river. Thus, in the beginning the kleshas are latent but slowly they become more and more active.  – Swami Satyananda Saraswati