The Obstacles of True Happiness

By Mia Taylor posted on on Thu 02nd Sep, 2010 03:02 pm

In the deep and esoteric science of yoga there exists much experiential exploration of the mind, consciousness and the boundless inner world.  This truthfully was yoga’s initial path: exploring consciousness.  Well before postures were added to the practice, yoga meant meditation; meditation led to inner exploration, inner exploration led to inner freedom, peace or kaivalya, this in turn led to rightful outer action.  The goal of yoga is to find our true-self, that which is free from our conditioning, that which brings all beings together in unity.

Among the many facets of our mind and consciousness, the ancients understood 5 sources of trouble, known as the Kleshas that prevent the sustenance of lasting happiness.  In other words, these causes of affliction can be directly traced into our programming, habits and patterns.  These causes are stumbling blocks on our path and must be carefully attended to so that through inner work we can absolve them to attain greater and lasting joy.

The first Klesha is known as Avidya or ignorance.  Truthfully all sources of trouble can be linked to ignorance, however we become desensitized to it over time, ignorant of our ignorance.  This is a learned trait that blinds us to the truth of life and its purpose.  We are conditioned to judge others or to think our way is best by our parents, and their parents, and their parents, teachers, advertisements, churches. This ignorance again, is the root of all causes of affliction.  Our singular beliefs very often are the source of ignorance.

The second Klesha is Asmita or Ego.  The ego, always misdirecting us in its arrogance  is rooted too, in conditioning, genetics, environmental upbringing.  The ego as known in modern psychology and ancient yoga is the “I” or “I am” factor.  The ego is parallel to illusion, it is a thick layer of our consciousness that takes a long time to erode.  The more we feed the ego the further we get from our true self.  We can all relate to it; we feel separate when ego is in control, we feel oneness when ego is at bay.

The third obstacle or Klesha is Raga or desire.  In this sense, desire can immediately be linked to a domino effect of unhappiness.  We for instance, desire an object, the mind goes into great longing, which creates obsession and dissatisfaction, which ultimately leads frustration and anger.  Once we feel anger we have to re-work ourselves back to a state of ease and grace.  That is “if” we recognize the desire and its effects in the first place.

The fourth Klesha is Dwesha or hatred.  This could also be characterized as aversion.  We unfortunately dwell on hurt and pain and these emotions are raw and unbending at times.  By anchoring ourselves in this field of emotion we only perpetuate ignorance of our true self.  Yes, we are human, hurt and pain are a part of life.  But it serves us not to live in the state of dis-ease.  Hatred consumes our soulful energy and our heart’s potential.  As the mind becomes stronger through practice, we can more easily sift through what is nourishing, supportive and joyful.

The last of these causes of affliction is Abhinivesha or possessiveness.  This also relates to greed.  This is a clinging to life and things with great fear of their loss.  Look all around the world and we can see greed and possessiveness:  war, corporations, poverty, abuse, gangs, politicians, slavery, ego, ignorance, desire, hatred…they all walk hand-in hand and we know how destructive they can be.

So how then to expunge these kleshas?  The answer is meditation and awareness.  Through meditation we become intimate with our own patterns and habits.  We give ourselves time to evaluate what is working in our lives and what is not.  This process reveals the very means to overcome these kleshas.  Be silent, go for a quiet walk or hike (no earphones!), contemplate, seek awareness and most of all breathe in the qualities you wish to manifest.

Here’s a meditation to try.  Sit or lie down comfortably, and begin to breathe deeply and diaphramatically. As the breath begins to deepen allow the mind to neutralize the kleshas by opening to their opposites through the heart center.  The opposite of ignorance is wisdom; the opposite of ego is humility and humbleness; the opposite of hatred is love and compassion; the opposite of desire is detachment; the opposite of greed and possessiveness is gifting, charity and letting-go.  You will feel your true self, your true soulful power…the power of Oneness.

Namaste~

 

About the Author

Mia Taylor is the Founder and President of The Yoga Learning Center, which has provided yoga online instruction for over 8 years.

Tweet

Comments (2)

Submit Your Comment