Dvesha

Dvesha

"aversion", "dislike", "hatred"

In Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutras”, along with avidyā, asmitā, rāga and abhiniveśa, is considered as one of the five kleshas that darkens human consciousness.

avidyāsmitārāgadveṣābhiniveśaḥ kleśāḥ

Avidya (ignorance), asmita (egoism), raga (attraction), dvesha (aversion) and abhinivesha (striving for life) are [five] kleshas.

“Yoga Sutras”, 2.3.

Patanjali indicates suffering (dukha) as the cause of dvesha: we experience dvesha when we try to avoid pain, suffering (based on past experience). The opposite of dvesha is raga – passion, attraction – the cause of which is pleasure (sukha). Raga and dvesha reflect the essence of the dual human thinking, in other words, these are the preferences of a person "like-dislike". These two states are similar to the extreme points of a pendulum, that is, they are extremes in the yogic understanding. They are so connected that they can pass into each other: a strong attraction to something can easily be replaced by dislike.

As well as raga, dvesha is considered a form of attachment, because the object of dvesha occupies the mind in the same way and causes an intense emotional reaction, albeit negative.

Gradual withdrawal from extremes and control of the mind help to overcome the dual thinking of raga-dvesha, which opens the way for sadhaka to know non-dual Reality. The “Bhagavad Gita” (2.64) says:

rāga-dveṣha-viyuktais tu viṣhayān indriyaiśh charan
ātma-vaśhyair-vidheyātmā prasādam adhigachchhati

But [one who] controls himself and is free from attraction (raga) and aversion (dvesa), controls the mind and senses, even when using them, obtains the mercy of [the Lord].