Avidya

In life we rarely think our perception is wrong or clouded. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, Avidya is a term used to encourage us to look deeper at what we appear to think is ‘correct understanding’. Avidya is symbolic of a tree that stands in our way of moving forward in life ‘incorrect understanding’. There are four branches that we can identify as Avidya; Raga, Dvesa, Abhinivesa, Asmita, they are all related to obstacles that prevent us from seeing things as they really are.

I will briefly explain the four branches and how you can recognise them. Upon recognising when you may slip into any of the four branches, you will begin the steps to awareness. When your awareness changes, your actions can change.

The first branch and one we may be very aware of during our Yoga practice is our ego ‘asmita’. This is the part of us that fires up when we compare, to ourselves or others. Can you identify a time or are you aware of when you fall into asmita during Yoga?

The second branch is attachment ‘Raga’. Raga is the attachment to things that bring us pleasure. The advice from Patanjali was to ‘let go’ – enjoy what we have when we have it and avoid being addicted to our comfort zone and basing our happiness on what we have or want. Allowing us to become more present when practising our Yoga.

Can you identify a time when you fall into Raga during your life or Yoga?

The third branch is Dvesa, this is opposite to Raga, refusal, or aversion.

Dvesa, is to avoid things, people, situations, or opportunities based on a difficult experience and our feelings of being afraid to repeat it assuming it will bring us a similar pain. Dvesa also appears in us when we avoid things that are unfamiliar, can you think of a time you have avoided something because of your perception of it?

Lastly, is fear ‘Abhinivesa’.  The idea of clinging on to life for a fear of death.

Also, general fear and anxiety of change, not knowing what is next. The resistance of holding on to tension and the ability to let go. Can you recognise a time when you have resisted change in your life or yoga practice?

This is a very brief explanation of what is a vast topic, and is my understanding from teachings, reading and research. If you would like to know more, I would recommend books: ‘The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V Desikacher’ or ‘The Yoga Sutras by Pantanjali’.