Asmitā - Wrong Identity - The Second Kleśa

Asmitā - Wrong Identity

The Second Kleśa

2.6 Drgdarśanaśaktyoh ekātmatā iva asmitā

The second kleśa (affliction) discussed in Kriya Yoga is asmitā.

Asmitā is defined in sūtra 2.6 Drgdarśanaśaktyoh ekātmatā iva asmitā, which means that false identity results when we regard mental activity as the very source of perception; or, asmitā is when the capabilities of the seer, along with the capabilities of the mind, are viewed as one thing.  Commonly translated as wrong ego — which is neither entirely incorrect nor correct — asmitā more accurately means wrong identity.

The word ego in the West has a derogatory cultural connotation of one’s own self-importance, an overpowering confidence in one’s personality.  However, philosophically speaking, ego more accurately means the essential parts one’s personality used to define the many different versions of self — a conscious thinking subject.  The translation of asmitā as wrong ego leads to misunderstanding of this kleśa just like the former one, avidyā.  Again, context is everything!

Asmitā means we come from perspectives that are not correct to the situation we are in.

There is no escaping perspective, so the question is, “What perspective are we coming from?”

If we enter a situation from the wrong identity (asmitā) due to a wrong perspective (avidyā), then the actions that follow are founded in a kleśa (affliction), and some sort of suffering will come as a result.

Here’s two scenarios that demonstrate asmitā:

1. You are the boss at a stressful job. You spend all day giving directions and orders to your employees. When you come home at the end of the day, that boss identity or perspective is still with you, and you behave or take actions towards your partner from your boss identity. Needless to say, your partner will not take kindly to your wrong identity as boss versus partner. Thus, suffering will follow.

2. You are the boss at your job, but you do not have the professional tools or experience to assertively give direction to your employees; instead you govern from the identity or perspective of friend. This will not work out well because there is a sense of authority and respect necessary to be the boss, which you lack at this point. The friend identity does not have this quality, so ultimately this situation will lead to difficulties and suffering.

This happens all the time in our daily lives.  We wear so many different hats everyday that sometimes we wear the wrong hat to the wrong occasion:  boss as partner, friend as parent, teacher as friend, and so on.

Since we cannot escape perspective, what or which perspective we come from is key in avoiding suffering from the kleśa of asmitā.

Asmitā also forms the basis for the next three kleśas (afflictions), so stay tuned to learn more about each in my upcoming blog articles.

A note for context:  My perspective is based in the Viniyoga/Desikachar lineage. Viniyoga is a traditional Indian lineage of Yoga taught by TKV Desikachar, who was the son of Krishnamacharya. My teacher, Chase Bossart, was a 20+ year private student of Mr. Desikachar.  I have studied this text with Chase, word for Sanskrit word, consistently for the past four years.

Namaste,

Kelly

*If you have been misguided on your yogic path, or have felt frustrated with the current yoga scene, I invite you to download my free e-book: How Yoga Philosophy Can Transform Your Teaching.