The fundamental problem that besets human beings, according to Bua, is that they have taken fake and false things as their true self and lack the necessary power to be their 'own true self'; they allow the wiles and deceits of the mental defilements to generate fear and anxiety in their minds. Fear and anxiety are not inherent within the "citta"; in fact, the "citta" is ultimately beyond all such things and indeed is beyond time and space. But it needs to be cleansed of its inner defilements (the "kilesas") before that truth can be realised.