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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:

  1. Sensual passion (kāmarāgānusaya)
  2. Aversion/Ill-will (paṭighānusaya)
  3. Views (diṭṭhānusaya)
  4. Doubt (vicikicchānusaya)
  5. Conceit (mānānusaya)
  6. Craving for existence (bhavarāgānusaya)
  7. 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).

Quote

evañca katvā pāḷiyaṃ puthujjanassa sattapi anusayā anusayavāre saha anusentīti uppajjanavāre saha uppajjantīti vuttā.
Therefore, in the Pali, it is stated that for an ordinary person, all seven latent tendencies lie dormant together in the “latent tendency section” (anusayavāra), and arise together in the “arising section” (uppajjanavāra).

yathāha puthujjanassa avijjānusayoca anuseti.
As it is said, the latent tendency of ignorance lies latent in an ordinary person.

kāmarāga.
Sensual lust.

paṭigha.
Resistance.

māna.
Conceit.

diṭṭhi.
Wrong view.

vicikicchā.
Sceptical doubt.

bhavarāganusayoca anusetīti.
And the latent tendency of lust for existence lie latent.

tathā uppajjanavārepīti.
Likewise in the section on arising (uppajjanavāra).

apica, sarūpato pariyuṭṭhānaṃ apatvā santāne pavattamānehi kusalākusalā byākatacittuppādehi saha anurūpā aviruddhā hutvā senti.
Furthermore, without reaching a state of manifestation (pariyuṭṭhāna) in their own nature, they lie latent, being compatible and not conflicting with the arisen wholesome, unwholesome, and indeterminate mental states in the mental continuum.

— Paramatthadīpanī

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.
  • Commentary: Paramatthadīpanī – Detailing how latent tendencies lie dormant in the mental stream compatible with arisen wholesome, unwholesome, and indeterminate states.

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