Anusaya

Anusaya: The 7 'latent tendencies', hidden inclinations, or latent liabilities are:

1. The latent tendency to sense-greed kāma-rāga samyojana,
2. The latent tendency to aversion patigha,
3. The latent tendency to speculative opinion ditthi,
4. The latent tendency to skeptical doubt vicikicchā,
5. The latent tendency to conceit & pride māna,
6. The latent tendency to craving for continued existence bhava-rāga,
7. The latent tendency to ignorance avijjā D. 33; A. VII, 11, 12.

These things are called 'latent tendencies' since, in consequence of their endurance, they ever and again - life after life- tend to become the conditions for the arising of ever new sense-greed, etc. Vis.M XXII, 60.

Yam. VII, first determines in which beings such and such latent tendencies exist, and which latent tendencies, and with regard to what, and in which sphere of existence. Thereafter it gives an explanation concerning their overcoming, their penetration, etc. Cf. Guide VI vii. According to Kath. several ancient Buddhist schools erroneously held the opinion that the anusayas as such, meant merely latent, hence kammically neutral qualities, which however contradicts the Theravāda conception. Cf. Guide V, 88, 108, 139.

References

Maha Thera Nyanatiloka. Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, Buddhist Publication Society, first edition 1952.