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Overview
The Latent Tendencies (Anusaya) are the most insidious and deeply buried forms of defilement. While active defilements (kilesa) bubble up to the surface during conscious thought, the latent tendencies sleep silently in the mental continuum, waiting for the right sensory trigger to strike. They are completely eradicated only by the supramundane paths.
The List
- Kāmarāgānusaya - The latent tendency of sensual lust: The dormant inclination toward seeking pleasure through the five physical senses.
- Paṭighānusaya - The latent tendency of aversion/anger: The dormant inclination toward anger, irritation, and pushing away unpleasant experiences.
- Diṭṭhānusaya - The latent tendency of views: The dormant inclination toward dogmatic opinions and wrong philosophical views.
- Vicikicchānusaya - The latent tendency of doubt: The dormant inclination toward skeptical indecision regarding the truth.
- Mānānusaya - The latent tendency of conceit: The dormant inclination toward measuring oneself against others (superior, equal, inferior).
- Bhavarāgānusaya - The latent tendency of attachment to existence: The dormant inclination toward wanting to be reborn and to continue living.
- Avijjānusaya - The latent tendency of ignorance: The deepest root. The dormant blindness to the Four Noble Truths.
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
- Canonical: Anusaya Sutta (AN 7.11) – The Buddha lists these seven and states that the holy life is lived exclusively for the abandoning and uprooting of these tendencies.
- Commentary: Paramatthadīpanī – Detailing how latent tendencies lie dormant in the mental stream compatible with arisen wholesome, unwholesome, and indeterminate states.