Following on from our exploration of avidya (ignorance or lack of knowledge), we turn now to the second of the kleshas: asmita. While avidya lays the foundation for all the kleshas by obscuring our ability to see things clearly, asmita takes this lack of clarity and turns it into a very specific form of illusion – the illusion of separateness.

Asmita is often translated as “egoism,” but it’s crucial to differentiate this from egotism, which suggests arrogance or an inflated sense of self-importance. Rather than vanity, asmita speaks to the deeper misidentification with the limited self, the belief that we are only our thoughts, emotions, and roles in the world. It is the klesha that convinces us that “I” and “mine” are ultimate truths, keeping us bound to a small, fragmented identity rather than recognizing our deeper connection to all things.

The Role of Asmita in Our Experience

From the moment we begin to develop a sense of self as children, asmita starts to take root. In our early years, we experience the world directly and without conceptual filters. But as we grow, we begin to form identities: “I am this kind of person,” “I do these kinds of things,” “I am separate from others.” We attach to these labels and roles – our name, our job, our relationships, our beliefs – believing them to be who we truly are. This identification is not inherently negative; it helps us function in the world. However, when we mistake these shifting identities for our true nature, suffering arises.

Asmita is at play when we take things personally, when we feel offended or superior, when we hold rigidly to our opinions, and when we define our worth based on external validation. It is the klesha that causes us to believe that we are our success or our failure, that we are our suffering or our joy. And because these aspects of identity are constantly in flux, living from asmita means living in a state of instability, as we grasp onto an ever-changing sense of self.

Recognizing Asmita in Daily Life

Asmita can be subtle and difficult to perceive because it disguises itself as “just who we are.” But with awareness, we can start to notice when it arises:

• When we become defensive in a conversation, as though our identity is under threat.
• When we feel diminished by a failure or inflated by an achievement.
• When we cling to a belief or opinion even in the face of new understanding.
• When we compare ourselves to others, either feeling superior or inadequate.

The good news is that just as asmita is built through conditioned thought, it can also be loosened through awareness. The first step is simply noticing when and how it shows up.

Moving Through Asmita

Yoga offers us practical tools to navigate and soften asmita. Meditation is particularly powerful, allowing us to step back from the constant fluctuations of thoughts and emotions and observe them without attachment. In moments of stillness, we glimpse the part of ourselves that exists beyond labels and identity, that is spacious and unchanging.

Asana (posture practice) can also help illuminate asmita. Notice the inner dialogue that arises in your practice: Are you frustrated when you can’t achieve a pose? Are you attached to being “good” at yoga? These small moments of attachment to identity in practice mirror asmita in the rest of life. By gently observing these tendencies on the mat, we develop the ability to do the same off the mat.

Pranayama (breathwork) is another tool that connects us back to something beyond our personal identity. The breath reminds us that we are not separate – the same air moves through all beings, sustaining life indiscriminately.

Freedom Beyond Asmita

The more we release our rigid identification with the self, the more freedom we experience. This does not mean dissolving the self entirely or rejecting individuality, but rather recognizing that our thoughts, emotions, and roles are not the whole picture of who we are. We can still play in the world, engage with passion, and express individuality, but without being enslaved by these shifting aspects of identity.

Through practice, we develop a clearer experience of our deeper nature – a presence that is aware of the self but not confined by it. This presence is steady even when life fluctuates, allowing us to respond with wisdom rather than react from ego-driven impulses. When we loosen asmita, we cultivate more compassion for ourselves and others, recognizing that we are not alone or separate but deeply interconnected.

In our next post, we we’ll explore the third klesha, raga – the strong attachment to previously experienced pleasure. If this discussion on asmita resonates with you, feel free to share your thoughts or questions below, I’m looking forward to continuing this journey through the kleshas together.