Resources
The teachings and communities that inspired this app. All paths point to the same seeing.
Primary Influences
The Fetters app draws heavily from these sources:
Liberation Unleashed
Community & Free Guidance
A global community offering free one-on-one guidance through the gateless gate. Real people who have seen through self-view help others look directly. The methodology in Fetters is based on their approach.
- Request a Guide — Free personal guidance
- Gateless Gatecrashers — Free book with 21 dialogues
Simply The Seen
Guide by Kevin Shanilec
A clear, practical guide to the ten fetters. Particularly useful for understanding the later fetters (4-10) after stream entry. The structure of Fetters follows this model.
Books
Gateless Gatecrashers
by Elena Nezhinsky & Ilona Ciunaite
21 real dialogues between guides and seekers, showing how the illusion of self is seen through. Reading this after doing the exercises can help something click. Free PDF available.
Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha (MCTB)
by Daniel Ingram
A comprehensive, no-nonsense guide to Buddhist awakening. Particularly valuable for understanding the stages of insight and the "Dark Night" that some practitioners experience. Free online version.
Seeing That Frees
by Rob Burbea
A profound exploration of emptiness and dependent origination. More philosophical than the direct-pointing approach, but deeply insightful for those drawn to that style.
I Am That
by Nisargadatta Maharaj
Dialogues with an Indian sage. Different tradition (Advaita Vedanta), same pointing. "You are not what you think you are."
Communities
r/streamentry
Reddit Community
An active community of practitioners discussing awakening, meditation, and the path. Good for questions and connecting with others on the journey.
- Health & Balance Wiki — Important resources for difficult experiences
Dharma Overground
Forum
A forum for "hardcore dharma" practitioners. Technical discussions about meditation, stages of insight, and awakening.
For Difficult Experiences
Self-inquiry can sometimes bring up intense experiences. These resources can help:
Dark Night Resources
- MCTB: Dark Night of the Soul — Understanding difficult phases
- Cheetah House — Support for meditation-related difficulties
- r/streamentry Health Wiki — Comprehensive resources
Grounding Practices
If things feel intense:
- Metta (Loving-Kindness) — Search "guided metta meditation" on YouTube
- 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding — Name 5 things you see, 4 you hear, 3 you feel, 2 you smell, 1 you taste
- Body awareness — Feel your feet on the ground, hands on your legs
- Pause the practice — It's okay to take a break. The insights will be here when you're ready.
Teachers & Talks
Delson Armstrong
Clear teachings on the jhanas and awakening. Interview on Free Will.
Roger Thisdell
Practical guidance on the path. Website.
Rivals (@nosilverv)
Clear Twitter threads on perception vs. imagination. Thread on Perception.
A Note on Resources
Resources can help, but they can also become another form of seeking. The point isn't to read everything — it's to look.
If you find yourself collecting teachings without practicing, pause. Close the browser. Sit down. Look at your direct experience. That's where the work happens.
"The finger pointing at the moon is not the moon."
Ready to Look?
The Fetters app provides guided inquiry based on these teachings. No reading required — just looking.
Download the App