Raga: The Art of Letting Go

At Bodhi Surf + Yoga, we’ve done a deep dive into the eight limbs of yoga from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. These include virtuous acts and moral behaviors, Asana, Pranayama, and meditation, all moving in harmony to bring us closer to enlightenment. On this eightfold path, one of the important lessons is the overcoming of certain obstacles or Kleshas. This journey also sets the stage for understanding and embracing the profound concept of letting go, known as “raga.”

In yoga philosophy, Kleshas refers to the barriers that prevent us from experiencing true contentment. In practice, they are the root causes of our suffering. Five Kleshas are defined in classical yoga texts: ignorance, aversion, attachment, ego, and fear of death. 

The Five Kleshas: the Roots of Suffering

1. Avidya (Ignorance): This is the root cause of all other kleshas. It refers to ignorance or misunderstanding of the true nature of reality, including the self (atman) and the universe (brahman).
2. Asmita (Ego): Asmita is the sense of individuality or ego identification. It involves attachment to one’s self-image and creates a sense of separation from others and the world.
3. Raga (Attachment): Raga is the attachment to pleasurable experiences or objects. It causes craving and desire, leading to attachment to material possessions, relationships, or sensory pleasures. It discourages us from leaving our comfort zone. 
4. Dvesha (Aversion): Dvesha is the avoidance or aversion to painful or unpleasant experiences. It causes dislike, hatred, or avoidance of certain people, situations, or things. 
5. Abhinivesha (Fear of Death): Abhinivesha is the fear of death or clinging to life. It is the instinctual drive to preserve one’s existence, often leading to anxiety, insecurity, or excessive attachment to the physical body.

Raga: Attachment, Desire, and Addiction

In classical yoga philosophy, Raga, or attachment, is why we chase our desires, material objects or certain states of mind. The opposite of Raga (attachment) is Dvesha (aversion), and the two often go together and represent a state of mind trapped in a cycle of suffering. According to the Yoga Sutras, when the mind bounces from Raga to Dvesha, it causes pain and misery, preventing us from finding balance and ease in life.  

Raga (attachment) is the desire for things that bring pleasure to oneself. When this desire is uncontrolled, it creates mindless behaviors. Even when we do get what we desire, it is often accompanied by a feeling of emptiness as the pleasure fades, and we begin searching for that feeling all over again. It becomes an endless cycle of craving and disappointment.

Navigating Pleasure and Attachment

Pleasure, in this context, is any experience that brings temporary happiness. According to Yoga philosophy, pleasure differs from true happiness, which does not come from outside or external sources. This means that true happiness cannot be “created” by combining our desire with the object of our desire. In this case, true happiness comes independent of external circumstances—external forces cannot create or destroy it. True happiness simply is and exists within us. 

“Raga is that inclination (attachment) which dwells on pleasure.” — The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

In essence, attachment is defined by:

• Craving sensual pleasures, or experiences pleasing to the senses
• An erosion of perspective and objectivity
• The expectation that what gives us pleasure will never change
• The idea that some object or situation is necessary for happiness
• The search for happiness in the external (as opposed to within us)

Raga is especially relevant to the modern world. In today’s society, we are dependent on numerous things for our happiness—iced coffee, TV, social media, Amazon, productivity, etc. These attachments can include people, material things, and even feelings. According to the Sutras, these addictions become our comfort zone and prevent us from spiritual growth. Consequently, in this state of Raga, our happiness depends on getting more of what we want. Our spiritual self suffers as a result, and true happiness remains elusive. 

“We have an idea of happiness. We may believe that only certain conditions will make us happy. But it is often our very idea of happiness that prevents us from being happy. The conditions for happiness are already there, available inside and around us. We have eyes that can see, legs that can walk, lungs that can breathe. All the wonders of life are available in the present moment—the sunshine, the fresh air, the trees, and the multitude of colours and forms all around us. The essential thing is to be aware. If we open our eyes, we will see.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh, How to See

The Art of Letting Go

Attachment is painful in two ways. First, it causes the fear of losing what we already have. Second, it causes the fear of not getting what we want. If we desire something, but we don’t get it, it causes Duhka (dissatisfaction). In contrast, Yoga teaches us to appreciate what we already have. It teaches us to be present and mindful of the constant flow of life, and the fact that change is natural. This is where the art of letting go comes into play. 

Attachment arises when we fear change, and we begin to cling to possessions and situations for fear of letting go. But Yoga teaches us that clinging onto things is contrary to the nature of life itself. In life change is inevitable. All the pleasurable experiences we crave depend on situations that will unavoidably change one day, resulting in what we experience as loss. When we lose the situation that pleased us, we lose our happiness. So we fear loss, because we fear losing our happiness, and so we cling to the experiences that please us. 

This is contrary to the Yoga philosophy of enjoying pleasant things but peacefully letting them go when it’s time for change. For example, we can enjoy the beauty of a flower when it has bloomed but we don’t cry when it wilts and the leaves fall. We don’t pray that the flower will stay perfectly intact forever, because we know it is impossible. Likewise, it’s the same with life. We must learn to enjoy the flow of life. If we cling to the state of the perfect flower, we will feel unease when it eventually loses its petals. 

True happiness arises when the mind is peaceful, clear, and in touch with the natural flow of life. True happiness is based on peace, not pleasure. 

“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything—anger, anxiety, or possessions—we cannot be free,” 

—Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation.

The advice of Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras is for us to develop the art of letting go. This doesn’t mean to neglect or reject the things we appreciate, but truly enjoy what we have while we have it. Essentially, letting go is about realizing the impermanent nature of both pleasure and pain. It is about finding peace and gratitude in the present moment. 

Practicing Asana, Pranayama, and meditation are all ways to train our brains and bodies to remain in the present moment. By using the eightfold path, we can start noticing attachment patterns in our thoughts and lives. By letting go of the fluctuations of the mind between pleasure and pain, we can enjoy the beauty of life in the present moment without attaching emotions about success or failure to every situation. Ultimately, practicing present-moment awareness is the art of letting go. 

Meditation for Letting Go of Raga

1. Prepare: Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can rest and relax. Sit in a comfortable position, either cross-legged on the floor or lying flat on your back on a yoga mat. Close your eyes and take ten deep breaths to relax your body and calm your mind. If you lose count, start from one.
2. Set the intention: Next, take a moment to set your intention for your practice. Remind yourself that you are willing to let go of attachments that no longer serve true happiness. Remind yourself that true freedom and inner peace come from releasing attachment to external forces. Remind yourself to embrace the present moment with acceptance and peace.
3. Body scan: Now bring your awareness to your body. Start at the tips of your toes and slowly scan up through your body, noticing any areas of tension. With each breath, imagine sending relaxation and ease to those areas, softening any tightness or holding. Consciously relax the muscles around your jaw, eyes, and forehead.
4. Breath awareness: Shift your attention to your breath. Notice the natural rhythm of your breath as it flows in and out of your body. With each inhale, visualize yourself breathing in a sense of safety and security. With each exhale, imagine releasing any attachments or clinging thoughts, letting them dissolve with the out-breath.
5. Visualization: Visualize yourself holding onto something you feel attached to—a person, a possession, an idea, or an expectation. Notice the feelings and sensations that arise as you hold onto this attachment. Now, imagine gently releasing your grip, allowing the attachment to float away from you like a cloud drifting in the sky. Feel a sense of lightness and freedom as you let go. 
6. Mantra: Begin silently repeating a mantra that resonates with you, such as “I release what no longer serves me” or “I surrender to the flow of life.” Then allow the mantra to become a guiding force as you let go of attachments and embrace the present moment with openness and acceptance. Take ten to twenty breaths here. 
7. Embracing impermanence: Reflect on the impermanent nature of all things. Recognize that attachment arises from the desire for things to remain the same, but that change is inevitable. Embrace the beauty of impermanence and the endless cycle of growth and transformation. Imagine a flower as it moves from seedling to bud, blossoming and wilting, having released its seeds for the next flower to sprout, as the cycle repeats.
8. Closing your practice: Take a few moments to express gratitude for this practice and the opportunity to cultivate greater awareness and freedom from attachment. When you’re ready, gently bring your awareness back to the present moment and slowly open your eyes.
9. Practice: Come back to this meditation whenever you want to practice letting go of attachment and experience greater peace, contentment and freedom in your life.