The Holidays through the Lens of the Kleshas

The holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is still 10 days away, but the radio is playing holiday music, the lights are on the lake, and the stores have been putting the Christmas displays out for weeks already.

The retail machine has an obvious motive. Snoopy knew the drill way back in the 60’s, right? Consumerism has only gotten worse. On the other hand, after the pandemic, the insane politics, and all of the hate, why not embrace a holiday that’s all about comfort and joy and merry and bright? I am outnumbered in my family. They are all ready for Christmas as soon as we put away the Halloween decorations. I prefer to savor Thanksgiving first.

We’ve been studying the kleshas in some of our ongoing classes for the last couple of weeks as part of our study of the Yoga Sutras.

Kleshas are the obstacles that prevent us from being in the state of yoga all the time.

Can we navigate the holiday—parties, consumerism, greed, overstimulation, overeating, competition, etc.—with grace and ease? The holidays can be difficult. What if we try to embrace the present moment as we ride the yule tide? The present moment is the only moment where yoga, the state of spiritual union, occurs.

Let's look at the holidays through the lens of the kleshas for some insight.

Klesha #1: Avidya - We teach this as “spiritual ignorance” or the inability to recognize the light within us. If we are consumed with trying to fill our perceived emptiness with “stuff,” we may need to overcome avidya so we realize that we are already enough.

Klesha #2: Asmita - egoism.  The problem isn’t the ego. It’s good to know who you are. It’s how attached to it you are. Do you want to be right or do you want to be free? It’s about loosening the hold ego has or making it more transparent. The best practice to see beyond the labels is meditation. And meditation is also an amazing tool to keep you grounded and centered throughout the chaos of the holidays.

Klesha #3 Raga - attachment to pleasure. This may be the big bad wolf of the holiday kleshas. We so want to create the perfect holiday. We eat too much, spend too much, and drink too much, all in pursuit of the pleasure. Hey, I own holiday plates that say “Eat, Drink, and be Merry.” I’m not saying that we shouldn’t celebrate. Maybe, though, we might also set an intention to enjoy more of the simpler pleasures of connecting and sharing memories with our loved ones. Maybe watch the Grinch again.

Klesha #4 Dvesha - aversion to pain.  There’s a lot of fear right now in our country. The political climate is scary. Violence abounds. People are weary. For some people, the holidays are painful. They may be missing holidays past. They may be suffering from depression. They may feel defeated by the weight of this country’s grief, ignorance, and division. When we deny reality, we suffer. When we accept reality, we are free. Rather than push away the negative, we need to make room for it. Allow the feelings that accompany it. Observe as witness consciousness. We’re back to meditation. Control what you can control.
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Klesha #5 Abhinivesha - fear of death or fear of disconnection. During the holidays, we strive to connect through celebrations, gifts, traditions. We lean in to what connects us. And it’s wonderful. That’s what it’s all about.

Take care of yourself this holiday season. Stay committed to your meditation and yoga practice. Connect to your inner light. Share it with others.