What Is the Meaning of the Latent Tendency of Craving (anuśaya)?

Latent craving (anuśaya) and latent afflictions—the literal meaning of the term "latent" (anuśaya) is "accompanying sleep," meaning hidden, operating behind the scenes, and accompanying. In the activities of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha), craving and afflictions accompany one at all times and in all places; the moment a critical point arrives, craving and afflictions jump out and become manifest, defiled karma appears, defiled seeds are stored up, and future suffering accumulates.

When there are latent craving and latent afflictions, the mind is veiled and cannot see the truth; ignorance obscures the light of wisdom. Therefore, even a single trace of affliction is ignorance—the mind is not clear and bright but dark, and the light of wisdom does not manifest. Cutting off craving is cutting off suffering: when craving is heavy, suffering is heavy, and one is reborn in the Sahā world; when craving is light, suffering is light, and one is reborn in the heavenly realms; with no craving, the present moment is the land of bliss (Sukhāvatī).