What Does 'Craving Anuśaya' Mean?

Latent craving (anuśaya) and latent afflictions (anuśaya): in terms of the literal meaning of the word "latent" (suīmián, "following sleep"), it means accompanying sleep — it means being hidden, operating behind the scenes, being a companion. In the activities of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha), craving and afflictions accompany one at every moment and in every place; the moment a critical juncture arrives, craving and afflictions jump out into manifestation, defiled karma appears, defiled seeds are stored up, and future suffering accumulates.

When there are latent cravings 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 (avidyā) — the mind is not clear and bright, it is dark, and the light of wisdom does not manifest. Severing craving is severing suffering: when craving is heavy, suffering is heavy, and one is reborn in Sahā; when craving is light, suffering is light, and one is reborn in the heavenly realms; when there is no craving, the present moment is the land of bliss (sukhāvatī).