The Kleshas: Abhinivesha

Arriving at the end of our examination of the five Kleshas, my hope remains that these posts have been enlightening in a way that shines a little light upon these most common aspects of the human condition.

Again, we have discussed a lot in these articles about ‘suffering’ and about what that means within the context of Yoga - but let’s not get too caught up the language and words here; suffering is absolutely part of the human experience and not something to be rejected or run from; it is within the examination of our individual suffering that one discovers our commonality with all of humankind.

Indeed, one may say that it is within the very examination of our suffering that we may all find liberation from our suffering… as we learn to view ourselves with kindness and compassion.

Abhinivesha:

The Klesha of Abhinivesha represents the strong, instinctual attachment that we have to our self-preservation and the fear we have of the cessation of our existence.

Within the yogic philosophy, Abhinivesha is translated as “fear of death” or “attachment to life”, and is considered to be the the most primal and deeply rooted Klesha within human consciousness.

Abhinivesha is said to be driven by our innate desire for self-preservation and a fear of the unknown that lies beyond our temporal existence.

Yet Abhinivesha has a more subtle meaning to it which is best described as “our unease with impermanence”.

Yoga reminds us that everything is impermanent.

Whether this realisation causes us anxiety or liberation is dependent upon our individual karma, and the work that we’ve done (or have yet to do), on removing the veils which cloud our view and prevent us from seeing the truth. It is these veils that are recognised as the five Kleshas.

We receive a glimpse here of how each of the Kleshas are wrapped up in Abhinivesha; the grasping to this life, the desire for permanence; the ego attached to our existence and the ignorance of what this life truly represents to the soul.

Abhinivesha is the most difficult Klesha to let go of and, indeed, the Yoga Sutras themselves remind us that “fear of death arises all on its own, and exists even for the most learned and wise”.

The attachment to life and the fear of death can manifest in various ways, including a clinging to familiar circumstances, a resistance to change, or an aversion to anything that threatens one's sense of security and continuity. These attachments and fears can manifest themselves as anxiety, insecurity, and a narrow perspective that hinders our spiritual growth and self-realisation.

Within the wider context of Hindu philosophy, Abhinivesha is also associated with the concept of Maya, the illusionary aspect of the phenomenal world. Our attachment to life (or our resistance to change), reinforces our identification with the temporary and perishable aspects of existence, and obscures our recognition of the eternal and unchanging reality (Brahman).

Both Yoga and Hindu philosophies propose various practices to address Abhinivesha and overcome the fear of death. These practices include contemplation on the impermanence of life, acceptance of the inevitability of death, and the cultivation of detachment from the transient aspects of existence.

By recognising the interconnectedness of all beings and the impermanence of individual existence, individuals can transcend the fear of death and embrace life with greater equanimity and spiritual insight.

Overcoming the Kleshas is seen as crucial for the yogi’s spiritual growth and liberation. By relinquishing our attachments, ignorance and ego-driven existence, we can experience greater freedom, transcend the limitations of our desires, and realise a deeper spiritual nature beyond the fear of death.

The Kleshas represent the less pleasant aspects of our consciousness, and it is very common to have an aversion to wanting to recognise and work with them in the first place.

But it is here that, once again, Yoga provides us with the map to guide us and the answers we seek.