The Subtle Fetters
The final veils on the path to full liberation.
Beyond Stream Entry
The first five fetters deal with the gross sense of self — the obvious "me" that seems to be doing, experiencing, wanting, and resisting.
The subtle fetters are... subtler. They're the remaining traces of identification that persist even after significant awakening. They're worked on after becoming a Non-Returner (Anāgāmī).
Breaking all ten fetters leads to Arahant — full liberation.
Individual Fetter Guides
Each of the five subtle fetters now has its own detailed page:
Attachment to refined states and subtle experiences.
Attachment to formless states and pure awareness.
The subtle sense of "I am" — the primal feeling of being.
Subtle agitation and the inability to rest completely.
The final veil — the root of all fetters.
A Note on These Fetters
If you're reading this and haven't yet seen through self-view, don't worry about the subtle fetters. They're not your current work.
The path is sequential. Start with the first fetter. The rest unfolds naturally.
"Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water."
Even Arahants live ordinary lives. Liberation isn't about becoming special — it's about seeing through what was never real.
Ready to Begin?
Start with the first fetter. The Fetters app guides you through self-inquiry, one step at a time.
Download the App