ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Kleśā (Buddhism)

Kleśā (pronounced KLEH-shah) is a big word used in Buddhism to talk about the bad feelings that we sometimes have inside us. Sometimes people feel angry, upset, jealous, or greedy, and these are all examples of kleśā.

Kleśā is like a little monster that lives inside our minds and makes us feel bad. It whispers things to us that are not very nice, makes us feel like we need things we don't really need, and can make it hard for us to be happy.

But the good news is that there are ways to get rid of kleśā. Buddhists believe that if we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings, we can catch the little monster and stop it from taking over. We can also practice things like mindfulness, compassion, and meditation to help us feel better and be more peaceful.

So even though kleśā can be a big deal, there are things we can do to make it better. And by learning to control our thoughts and feelings, we can live a happier and more peaceful life.