Patañjali’s Kriya Yoga

The Psychology of Inner Growth and Liberation

If you plant a seed in the soil, water it regularly, and ensure it receives sunlight, eventually it will sprout—marking the visible beginning of its journey. This tender shoot then faces many challenges as it grows, striving to reveal the invisible potential hidden within.

Patañjali, the great sage of yoga, teaches that the human being is also like a seed, holding within a profound latent force that, under the right conditions, can be awakened into consciousness. In the second chapter of the Yoga Sutras, he introduces a powerful method for this awakening—Kriya Yoga.

The purpose of Kriya Yoga, according to Patañjali, is to remove all obstacles that hinder the emergence of our spiritual potential. This approach is built upon three foundational pillars:

• Tapas – Disciplined effort

• Svādhyāya – Self-study and inner observation

• Īśvarapraṇidhāna – Devotion and surrender to the Divine

The Role of the Mind

Patañjali emphasizes that the mind is both the key to awakening and the main barrier to it. When the mind suffers, it becomes disconnected from the essence of the Self, creating stagnation on the spiritual path.

He identifies five root causes of suffering (kleshas)—deeply embedded mental patterns that obscure our inner light. These, he says, are inherent in all humans and form the mental counterpart to the physical body’s structure.

Though necessary for earthly existence, these kleshas block the realization of higher consciousness when left unchecked.

The Five Kleshas (Obstacles to Liberation)

1. Avidyā – Ignorance
   The inability to perceive the true nature of reality. Avidyā is not a lack of information, but a fundamental misunderstanding of our true essence. We may speak spiritual truths, yet fail to experience them. This creates a shallow, material engagement with life that fosters inner tension and distance from truth.

2. Asmitā – Egoism or False Identity
   The attachment to the idea of “I” as defined by material possession or status. Asmitā gives rise to pride, comparison, possessiveness, and illusion. Mistaking the ego for the self leads to suffering when challenges arise.

3. Rāga – Attachment to Pleasure
   The pursuit of worldly pleasure at the expense of inner peace. While enjoyment is part of life, clinging to pleasure distances us from our spiritual source. This obsession with gratification becomes a barrier to authentic joy.

4. Dveṣa – Aversion to Pain
   The avoidance of discomfort or struggle. Yet, like the seed breaking through its shell, challenges are essential for growth. Pain is not the enemy—it is the teacher. Avoiding it weakens our resilience and interrupts transformation.

5. Abhiniveśa – Fear of Death or Clinging to Life
   The instinctive love for life in the physical realm is both natural and essential. However, when this instinct grows unchecked, it creates fertile ground for ignorance, ego, and attachment. Just as the earth nurtures both weeds and flowers, this instinct can birth either suffering or spiritual awareness.

From Seed to Self: How Kleshas Manifest

According to Patañjali, these five kleshas are dormant at birth (prasupta), but become active (tanū, vicchinna, uddhāra) based on life experience and mental conditioning. Left unchecked, they germinate and flourish, distorting the mind and impeding spiritual clarity.

The Kriya Yoga Remedy: Threefold Transformation

Patañjali prescribes Kriya Yoga to weaken the grip of the kleshas and restore spiritual alignment. The method involves three key practices:

1. Tapas – Austerity and Willpower

Tapas refers to conscious self-discipline that purifies the mind and strengthens endurance. Its purpose is to weaken the root of suffering by reversing its momentum (pratiprasava)—returning kleshas from active to dormant states.

By enduring challenges mindfully, one cultivates inner strength and mental clarity. Tapas must be practiced under proper guidance, adapted to each individual’s body, psyche, and spirit.

2. Svādhyāya – Self-Inquiry and Awareness

Svādhyāya means studying oneself and one’s actions with honesty. It involves continuous observation of thoughts, emotions, and behavioral patterns.
Elevated actions (sāttvika karma) like compassion, service, and kindness bring us closer to our spiritual essence, while destructive behaviors (tāmasika karma) such as anger, envy, and greed pull us away.

The practice here is to encourage noble actions and consciously avoid harmful ones, thereby keeping the mind aligned with its source.

3. Īśvarapraṇidhāna – Devotional Surrender

This pillar encourages complete trust in the Divine order. Rather than control or resistance, it invites acceptance of the unknown with reverence.
Through surrender, suffering is softened, and awareness expands. The central practice here is meditation, which cultivates inner peace, divine love, and connection.

As the practitioner becomes filled with positive energy, their mind aligns with universal wisdom, protecting the soul from becoming trapped by ego or fear.

The Mirror of the Mind

In Kriya Yoga, the mind is like a mirror that reflects the soul. Over time, this mirror becomes clouded by desires, conditioning, and fear. Kriya Yoga offers a systematic way to polish this mirror, allowing the radiance of the Self to shine through once again.

When the mind is purified and clear, the seed of spiritual consciousness can fully blossom—bringing about transformation, liberation, and lasting joy.