A
Great question — you’re pointing to a very central connection in Pātañjala Yoga Sūtras (YS 2nd pāda: Sādhana Pāda). Let’s carefully explore how Kriyā Yoga relates to the Kleśas.
1. Kriyā Yoga (क्रीयायोग)
Patañjali defines it (YS 2.1):
“tapaḥ-svādhyāyeśvara-praṇidhānāni kriyā-yogaḥ”
→ Kriyā Yoga is the yoga of threefold discipline:
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Tapas – self-discipline, austerity, mastery over body-mind.
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Svādhyāya – study of sacred texts, repetition of mantra, self-reflection.
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Īśvara-praṇidhāna – surrender/devotion to Īśvara (higher reality).
2. Purpose of Kriyā Yoga
Immediately after, Patañjali states (YS 2.2):
“samādhi-bhāvanārthaḥ kleśa-tanū-karaṇārthaś ca”
→ The purpose of Kriyā Yoga is:
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Cultivating samādhi (deep absorption).
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Attenuating the kleśas (causes of suffering).
3. Kleśas (क्लेशाः)
YS 2.3 lists five afflictions (mental impurities that bind the jīva):
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Avidyā – ignorance, misperceiving the real/unreal.
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Asmitā – egoism, identification of self with body-mind.
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Rāga – attachment, clinging to pleasure.
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Dveṣa – aversion, hatred of pain.
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Abhiniveśa – fear of death, deep survival instinct.
4. How Kriyā Yoga Works on Kleśas
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Tapas → burns out rāga & dveṣa by training equanimity toward heat/cold, pleasure/pain. Weakens abhiniveśa by loosening bodily attachment.
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Svādhyāya → destroys avidyā by cultivating right knowledge, reminds one of higher truths. Reduces asmitā by seeing oneself as more than the ego.
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Īśvara-praṇidhāna → dissolves asmitā (egoism) through surrender, and weakens abhiniveśa (fear of death) through trust in the eternal.
Thus, Kriyā Yoga is a practical method for gradually thinning the kleśas that obscure clarity and block samādhi.
5. Summary Relationship
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Kriyā Yoga = method.
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Kleśas = obstacles.
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Goal = Samādhi & kaivalya (liberation).
So:
👉 Kriyā Yoga functions like a cleansing fire that burns away the kleśas, preparing the yogin for deeper meditation and eventual freedom.
Would you like me to create a visual flowchart (Kriyā Yoga → Kleśa reduction → Samādhi → Kaivalya) so the relationship becomes instantly clear?
A
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