East 5
No knowing who we are (avidya) fills our minds and hearts with doubt and fear. Our inability to withstand the pain caused by this doubt and fear forces us to hold on tightly to whatever it is we imagine ourselves to be. This is how our self-identity and self-image are born. To an ignorant person, this is called the birth of an individual identity (asmita). However, to a knowledgeable person, the birth of asmita is spiritual death…we do everything in our power to protect it. This is where clinging to life begins. After this moment, we run after anything that seems to support and nurture our I-am-ness, our self-identity. At the same time, we also endeavor to run away from anything that threatens our self-identity. Thus attachment (raga) and aversion (dvesha) are born. With the birth of attachment and aversion, we are completely surrounded by an inescapable condition called fear (abhinivesha). —Patanjali, Yoga Sutra 2.3 L2656 Rishikesh
