What Are the Ten Fetters in Buddhism?
A complete guide to the samyojana — the mental chains that bind us to suffering, and how breaking them leads to awakening.
The ten fetters (Pali: samyojana, Sanskrit: saṃyojana) are a core teaching in Theravada Buddhism describing the mental chains that bind beings to the cycle of rebirth and suffering (samsara).
Unlike moral precepts or virtues to cultivate, the fetters are illusions to see through. When you directly see that a fetter is based on a false assumption, it dissolves — not through willpower, but through recognition.
This guide explains each of the ten fetters, how they relate to the four stages of Buddhist awakening, and how to begin working with them practically.
The Complete List of Ten Fetters in Buddhism
Here are all ten fetters with their Pali names:
The belief in a separate, independent self — an "experiencer" behind experience. This is the root fetter.
Uncertainty about the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, and the path itself.
Believing that external practices, rituals, or rules alone lead to liberation.
Craving for pleasant sensory experiences — sights, sounds, tastes, touches, smells.
Aversion, anger, hatred, and the push away from unpleasant experience.
Attachment to material existence and the jhanas (meditative absorptions) associated with form.
Attachment to formless states, pure awareness, and the formless jhanas.
The subtle sense of "I am" — not the belief in self (fetter 1), but the felt sense of being.
Subtle agitation and the inability to rest completely in the present.
The fundamental not-knowing that underlies all other fetters.
The Four Stages of Awakening and the Fetters
In Buddhism, breaking the fetters corresponds to the four stages of awakening:
1. Stream-Enterer (Sotāpanna)
Fetters broken: 1, 2, 3 (Self-View, Doubt, Rites & Rituals)
The stream-enterer has "entered the stream" of liberation. They have seen through the illusion of a separate self and will attain full awakening within seven lifetimes. This is considered the most significant breakthrough — once self-view falls, the other two fetters dissolve automatically.
2. Once-Returner (Sakadāgāmī)
Fetters weakened: 4, 5 (Sensual Desire, Ill Will)
The once-returner has significantly weakened craving and aversion. They will return to the human realm only once more before full liberation.
3. Non-Returner (Anāgāmī)
Fetters fully broken: 4, 5
The non-returner has completely broken sensual desire and ill will. They will not return to the human realm but will attain final liberation in a higher realm.
4. Arahant
Fetters broken: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (all remaining)
The arahant has broken all ten fetters and attained complete liberation (nibbana). They are fully awakened and will not be reborn.
How to Break the Fetters: Practical Approach
The fetters are not broken through effort, belief, or practice alone. They dissolve through direct seeing — looking at your actual experience and recognizing that the fetter is based on a false assumption.
The Key Insight: Self-View
The first fetter (Self-View) is the most important. When you see through the illusion of a separate self, fetters 2 and 3 fall automatically. This is why most contemplative traditions focus on this question:
"Can you find the self in your direct experience? Not the thought of self — the actual self. The experiencer behind experience. The thinker behind thoughts."
When you look honestly, you find: experience is happening, but no experiencer can be found. Thoughts arise, but no thinker can be located. This isn't a belief — it's a direct recognition.
Self-Inquiry Method
The Fetters app uses self-inquiry based on the Liberation Unleashed methodology. Instead of lectures or guided meditations, it asks you questions that direct your attention to your actual experience:
- Right now, seeing is happening. Can you find the seer?
- Thoughts are arising. Can you find the thinker?
- Experience is present. Can you find the experiencer?
These questions aren't philosophical — they're invitations to look.
Common Questions About the Ten Fetters
Do I need to be Buddhist to work with the fetters?
No. The fetters describe psychological structures that anyone can examine. You don't need to believe in Buddhism, rebirth, or anything else. You just need to look honestly at your experience.
How long does it take to break the first fetter?
There's no fixed timeline. Some people see through self-view in days; for others, it takes months or years. What matters is honest looking, not speed.
What happens after stream entry?
Life continues normally. You still use "I" in conversation, still have preferences. But the core illusion has been seen through. There's less suffering, more ease, and the path forward becomes clearer.
Is this the same as meditation?
Not quite. Meditation (samatha/vipassana) can support self-inquiry, but the fetters are broken through seeing, not through achieving calm or concentration. You can begin looking right now, without any meditation experience.
Where to Learn More
Start Working with the Fetters Today
The Fetters app provides AI-guided self-inquiry based on Liberation Unleashed methodology. Free, private, no accounts required.
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