About Fetters
Why we built this, and what we hope it offers.
The Problem
For 2,500 years, the path to liberation has been available. The Buddha mapped it clearly. Countless practitioners have walked it and confirmed: the fetters can be seen through.
But there's a bottleneck: guidance.
Organizations like Liberation Unleashed offer free one-on-one guidance — real humans who have seen through self-view helping others look directly. It works remarkably well.
The problem? There aren't enough guides. Wait times can be weeks or months. Many people who are ready to look never get the chance.
The Experiment
We wondered: Could AI help bridge this gap?
Not as a replacement for human guidance — that connection is valuable. But as a first step. A way to start looking immediately, without waiting. A companion for the inquiry that's available at 3am when the questions are burning.
The result is Fetters: an AI guide trained on the Liberation Unleashed methodology, the Simply The Seen framework, and the direct-pointing approach that has helped thousands see through the illusion of self.
How It Works
Guided Inquiry
The AI asks you to look — not to understand intellectually, but to examine your direct experience. "Can you find the one who is looking?" "What's actually here, right now?" The questions are designed to point you toward seeing, not thinking.
Private Journaling
Capture what you notice. Writing deepens seeing. Your reflections stay on your device — we never see them.
Silent Community
See how many others are looking right now. Share anonymous reflections. There's something powerful about knowing you're not alone on this path.
Safety First
Self-inquiry can sometimes bring up intense experiences. We include grounding practices, safety resources, and clear guidance on when to pause. This is a gentle path.
What This Isn't
- Therapy — This isn't mental health treatment. If you're struggling, please seek professional support.
- A quick fix — Some see through self-view quickly. For others, it takes longer. There's no timeline.
- A replacement for human guidance — If you can work with a human guide (through Liberation Unleashed or elsewhere), do it. This is a complement, not a replacement.
- Religion — No beliefs required. Just looking at your direct experience.
Our Principles
Free
Liberation shouldn't have a price tag. The app is free, with no premium tiers or paywalls.
Private
Your inquiry is yours. Journal entries stay on your device. We don't track your progress or sell your data.
No Accounts
Just download and start looking. No email required, no sign-up friction.
Open
We're transparent about our methodology, our influences, and our limitations. The resources page links to everything that inspired this.
The Creator
Fetters was built by Maxime Germain, a tech entrepreneur who has been walking this path for 18 years.
Through meditation retreats, self-inquiry, various contemplative traditions, and eventually the direct-pointing approach of Liberation Unleashed — the journey has been long. This app is an attempt to make that journey more accessible to others.
Not an enlightened master. Just someone who found something valuable and wants to share it.
Questions? Feedback? Get in touch.
Gratitude
This app wouldn't exist without:
- Liberation Unleashed — For developing and freely sharing the methodology
- Kevin Shanilec (Simply The Seen) — For the clear fetter-by-fetter framework
- The r/streamentry community — For years of shared wisdom
- Every practitioner who has looked — And confirmed that the path is real
Ready to Look?
The app is free. No accounts. Just you and the inquiry.
Download the App