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klesha

rare
UK/ˈkleɪʃə/US/ˈkleɪʃə/

technical/religious

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Definition

Meaning

A mental affliction or obstacle in Buddhist and yogic philosophy.

Any underlying emotional or psychological disturbance that perpetuates suffering and blocks spiritual progress, often classified into specific categories like ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and fear.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily a specialized term in Eastern religious and philosophical contexts, not used in general English. It denotes fundamental impurities of the mind rather than transient emotions.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant usage differences between UK and US English, as the term is confined to specialized discourse. Both use the same spelling and concept.

Connotations

In both regions, it connotes depth psychology within spiritual practice, not casual distress.

Frequency

Extremely rare in general language; appears almost exclusively in texts about Buddhism, yoga, or comparative religion.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
root kleshafive kleshasovercome kleshapurify klesha
medium
klesha theorymental kleshasubtle kleshaklesha-based
weak
powerful kleshaprimary kleshaklesha removal

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The klesha of [noun phrase] (e.g., ignorance)To overcome/purify/transcend the kleshas

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

poison (as in the 'three poisons')obstacle

Neutral

afflictiondefilementimpurity

Weak

disturbancehindrance

Vocabulary

Antonyms

claritypurityenlightenmentliberation

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in religious studies, philosophy, or psychology papers discussing Buddhist or yogic thought.

Everyday

Not used in everyday conversation.

Technical

Core term in yoga philosophy (e.g., Patanjali's Yoga Sutras) and Buddhist psychology (e.g., Abhidharma).

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

  • The kleshic tendencies were deeply ingrained.
  • A klesha-based reaction.

American English

  • The kleshic tendencies were deeply ingrained.
  • A klesha-based reaction.

Examples

By CEFR Level

B1
  • In yoga, a klesha is something that disturbs the mind.
B2
  • The practice aims to weaken the root kleshas, such as aversion and attachment.
C1
  • According to Patanjali, ignorance (avidya) is the field where the other kleshas germinate and develop.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'KLESHA' = 'Knots Letting Emotions Shackle Heart & Awareness.'

Conceptual Metaphor

THE MIND IS A CLOUDED LAKE (kleshas are the mud and weeds clouding its clarity).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not confuse with Russian 'kleшa' (a brand of porridge).
  • Do not translate directly as 'грех' (sin); klesha is more a cognitive/affective flaw than a moral transgression.
  • Avoid associating it with common words for 'problem' ('проблема') or 'worry' ('беспокойство'); it is more fundamental.

Common Mistakes

  • Pronouncing it as /klɛʃə/ (like 'flesh').
  • Using it as a synonym for a simple 'worry' or 'annoyance'.
  • Capitalising it as a proper noun.
  • Confusing it with 'karma'.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
In Buddhist psychology, the five primary are seen as the sources of all suffering.
Multiple Choice

In which field is the term 'klesha' primarily used?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a rare, specialized loanword used almost exclusively in discussions of Eastern philosophy and religion.

Yes, the most common form is the Sanskrit plural 'kleshas' (also sometimes 'kleśas'), referring to the set of mental afflictions.

A klesha is considered a fundamental, underlying tendency that colours and distorts emotions and thoughts, whereas an emotion is a more transient feeling state.

The most common anglicised pronunciation is /ˈkleɪʃə/, with a long 'a' sound as in 'play', followed by 'shuh'.