phra rgyas

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ཕྲ་རྒྱས
"subtle increaser", latent tendency, [ploliferating] kleshas, vanities [nyon mongs pa phra ba las rgyas par byed pa ste ngo bo mthong dka' bas na phra ba dang, dmigs pa dang mtsungs ldan gang rung gi sgo nas rgyas par 'gyur bas na rgyas pa'o [IW]

subtle and proliferating [RY]

affective structure, dormant state of emotivity, subtle expanding modes, misery, subtle and proliferating [JV]

subtle unfolding (of afflictive emotions) [RB]

"subtle increaser", latent tendency, [Syn. nyon mongs pa. vanities. latent tendencies; subtle unfolding (of afflictive emotions) [RY]

subtle increaser, latent tendency, [proliferating] kleshas, vanities [IW]

Discussion

Kernels. These are the subtle afflictions that expand either through focusing on an object or through concurrence with other afflictions or cognitions—they are the kernels of affliction that when moistened expand into full-blown affliction. When they are present, one accumulates karma and thus wanders in samsara; when they are abandoned, then one is freed from cyclic existence; hence the Treasury says, "The roots of existence: the kernels."

According to the Treasury of Manifest Dharma, there are six kernels: desire, anger, pride, ignorance, view, and doubt. They can be further classified in various ways as seven, ten, 98, and so forth.

Different schools of Buddhism have differing opinions as to their nature: Theravadins and the Kashmiri Vaibhashikas posit that they are latencies, like seeds, whereas the Great Vehicle mgnon pa kun las btus pa and other schools posit that they are manifest, though subtle.

The English word "kernel" can mean seed, but it also is used in other contexts to describe a manifest but subtle quality, as in the phrase "a kernel of truth." Thus it can be used to describe both the Vaibashika and Great Vehicle positions without prejudice.

According to the Treasury, the Sanskrit word anuṣSaya is a compound of words meaning "subtle" and "expand:" "As they are subtle and expand, they are subtle-expanders." The Tibetan word phra rgyas is a literal translation of this. A literal translation as "subtle expander" in English seems unwieldy and may not accord with the explanations of other Buddhist schools, so it is not preferred.

Sometimes it is translated as "latent defilement," but since not all schools agree that kernels are latent, this translation is also not preferred.[DKC]