Grammatical Analysis
Anusaya: [m.] latent tendency; underlying disposition; dormant defilement. Formed by prefix anu (along, with) + root si (to lie down, sleep). Literally means “that which lies dormant.”
Orthodox Definition
Anusayas represent the deepest, sleeping substratum of defilements (kilesas) in Theravāda psychology. While active defilements (pariyuṭṭhāna) boil up into conscious thought, and transgressive defilements (vītikkama) erupt into physical action, anusayas are the hidden, latent potentials lying quietly in the mental stream, waiting for the right sensory trigger to wake them up.
The tradition identifies seven latent tendencies:
- Sensual passion (kāmarāgānusaya)
- Aversion/Ill-will (paṭighānusaya)
- Views (diṭṭhānusaya)
- Doubt (vicikicchānusaya)
- Conceit (mānānusaya)
- Craving for existence (bhavarāgānusaya)
- Ignorance (avijjānusaya)
Because they are dormant, they cannot be destroyed by morality (sīla) or even by deep concentration (samādhi). They are only permanently uprooted when struck by the lightning flash of supramundane path-wisdom (magga-ñāṇa).
Textual References
- Sutta: Anusaya Sutta (SN 45.175) – Brief discourse instructing monks to cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path specifically for the uprooting of the seven latent tendencies.
- Abhidhamma: Vibhaṅga (Anusaya-vibhaṅga).
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter XXII) – Detailing which specific path-moments kill which specific dormant tendencies.