Using the Kleśas (Distortions of Awareness) as a Diagnostic Tool in Philosophical Practice: A Framework

This paper proposes a novel framework for integrating the five kleśas— avidyā (ignorance), asmitā (egoism), rāga (attachment), dveṣa (aversion), and abhiniveśa (clinging to life)—as diagnostic categories within contemporary philosophical practice. Drawing from Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras, the framework interprets kleśas not merely as metaphysical obstructions but as phenomenological distortions of awareness that manifest in lived experience. By mapping these distortions onto existential predicaments such as alienation, anxiety, and despair, the paper outlines a method for philosophical practitioners to identify and engage with clients’ underlying patterns of suffering. The approach emphasises dialogical inquiry, self-reflective awareness, and ethical transformation, positioning the kleśas as both diagnostic lenses and catalysts for liberation-oriented reflection. This cross-cultural synthesis offers a practical and theoretically robust contribution to the evolving field of philosophical counselling.