The idea of the 3 malas comes from Tantra Yoga, specifically Kashmir Shivaism. I first heard of the concept in an Anusara Yoga Teacher Training. The 3 malas are found on the "Tattva" map, which I don't really understand, but is supposed to be a map of how "Consciousness" splits into everything that is.
This strain of Yoga philosophy believes that we are all pure Consciousness. We are perfect and whole, but we forget that perfection. The 3 malas are the 3 ways Consciousness is "veiled"; the ways we feel imperfection. In my mind it is very much related to the idea of self-esteem. We could think of it with this metaphor: we are each a crystal clear mirror, but we have layers of dust. These layers of dust are the malas. Why do we have them? Why is Consciousness veiled? Who knows. Some say Consciousness is veiled so that we can remember our perfection. We don't like in our perfection, but we can remember it.
The first mala, the mother of all the malas, is called Anava mala. It is the feeling that we are not good enough. We do not measure up. We could also say it is an over-emphasis on individual self.
I am not good enough.
I am fat.
I am not smart enough.
I am not successful enough.
I am not good-looking enough.
The second mala comes from the first and is called Mayiya mala. We could say it is an emphasis on others. We feel separate from others. We feel as though other people are judging us and noticing our imperfections. We feel disconnected. We feel small. We have forgotten that everything is Consciousness (according to this strain of Yoga) and that we are inseparable from everything else.
"Feeling unworthy goes hand in hand with feeling separate from others, separate from life. If we are defective, how can we possibly belong? It's a vicious cycle: the more deficient we feel, the more separate and vulnerable we feel." from Radical Acceptance, by Tara Brach, p.7
Radical Acceptance is a good source for ideas mentioned in this post. It is a Buddhist text, but reflects the malas nonetheless.
The third mala is Karma mala, the idea that we are not doing enough. This is the deep feeling that our self-worth is based on what we accomplish. It is also the feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness-- like we don't have the power to act-- we're stuck.
The quality of our yoga practice is not a reflection of what we 'do'. Our goodness as a person is not a reflection of what we 'do'.
"I have enough. I do enough. I am enough." -- source unknown
