What Are The Fetters: Buddhist & Psychological Explanations

By Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
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The Buddhist concept of fetters—ten mental chains that bind the mind to suffering—may sound ancient and abstract. Yet when reframed in modern psychological terms, these fetters reveal themselves as deeply familiar patterns: identity confusion, self-doubt, craving, anger, perfectionism, pride, restlessness, and blind spots.

They are the unseen obstacles that keep people looping through the same frustrations, unable to move beyond old ways of thinking and feeling.

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What Are Fetters?

Traditionally, these fetters are described as the barriers that keep a person bound to samsara (the cycle of suffering). In a modern interpretation, we might call them “habitual mental fixations” that lock us into repetitive emotional suffering. What makes the fetters framework especially powerful is that it also maps the journey of awakening. As insight deepens, fetters are gradually broken—one after another—until the mind rests in complete freedom.

This article unpacks each fetter in accessible language, explores how they manifest in everyday life, describes when they fall away on the awakening path, and offers practical reflections for loosening their grip.

Why the Fetters Matter: Fetters and Awakening

Before diving into each fetter, it’s worth asking: why do they matter?

The fetters are not just abstract categories—they describe the concrete ways we suffer. Every time we get caught in self-criticism, paralyzed by doubt, consumed by anger, or obsessed with craving, we are experiencing the fetters at work. They limit freedom, reduce resilience, and block deeper clarity.

On the awakening journey, these fetters fall away in stages:

Stream-entry (first stage of enlightenment): The first three fetters—self-identity views, doubt, and attachment to rituals—are sufficiently broken. This brings an irreversible shift: life is no longer lived entirely from illusion.
Once-returner (second stage of enlightenment): Fetters of craving and ill-will are significantly weakened. Emotional life becomes calmer, though not yet free.
Non-returner (third stage of enlightenment): Sensual craving and ill-will fully dissolve. Emotional reactivity quiets further.
Arhat (full enlightenment): The remaining five higher fetters are sufficiently broken. Nothing remains to bind the mind.

By seeing the fetters clearly, one can track not only personal growth but also the unfolding process of awakening.

The Ten Fetters in Detail

Fetter 1. Self-Identity Views (The Illusion of a Solid Self)

What it is:
The belief in a fixed, separate “self.” In psychology, this parallels rigid self-schemas—narratives like “I am a failure,” “I am special,” or “I must always be competent.”

What it feels like:
It shows up as defensiveness when criticized, anxiety when roles shift, or shame when the self-story doesn’t hold up. For example, losing a job may feel like “I am worthless” rather than simply “I lost employment.”

When it breaks:
At stream-entry. Insight reveals that “self” is a process, not a solid entity. Life feels lighter, as if the constant pressure to defend an identity has softened.

Fetter 2. Uncertainty (Doubt)

What it is:
Paralyzing doubt—not healthy curiosity, but chronic indecision and mistrust in one’s own capacity to see clearly.

What it feels like:
A mind spinning in circles: “What if I’m wrong? What if I can’t do this? What if this whole path is pointless?” It can block spiritual practice, relationships, or career choices.

When it breaks:
At stream-entry. Paralyzing doubt dissolves into a quiet acceptance: not blind faith, but trust born from direct experience.

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Fetter 3. Attachment to Rituals and Habits

What it is:
Over-reliance on external forms—rituals, rules, or habits—as if they guarantee well-being. In psychology, this is akin to compulsive behaviors or rigid coping strategies.

What it feels like:
Fear of missing routines (“If I don’t meditate for 30 minutes exactly, my day is ruined”), or over-valuing certain practices as if they hold magical power.

When it breaks:
At stream-entry, freedom arises as rituals are seen as tools, not absolutes. The practice becomes flexible, adapted to real needs rather than superstition or expected outcomes.

Fetter 4. Sensual Craving & Desire (Attachment)

What it is:
Desire for sensory pleasures—food, sex, entertainment, possessions. In modern terms, it overlaps with reward-seeking and addiction cycles.

What it feels like:
Endless wanting: finishing dessert but already craving more, or refreshing social media for the next hit of stimulation. Temporary highs, followed by restlessness.

When it weakens/breaks:
Weakened at once-returner. Fully broken at non-returner. Life feels more spacious; pleasure is enjoyed without clinging. Note that thoughts about craving may continue, but they are no longer motivating behavior because we are no longer identifying with the thoughts.

Fetter 5. Ill-Will (Aversion)

What it is:
Hostile emotions like anger, resentment, and hatred. Psychologically, it’s chronic negativity bias and thoughts about disliking certain experiences.

What it feels like:
Snapping at a loved one, simmering resentment, or carrying grudges long after an event without being able to see and disidentify from the thoughts that create these emotions.

When it weakens/breaks:
Weakened at once-returner. Fully broken at non-returner. After it falls away, it's clear that these emotions arise as a result of thought that are untrue and not part of the self.

Fetter 6. Insistence on Form (Subject-Object Divide)

What it is:
The belief that we exist as the central “subject” in a world of separate “objects.” Life is unconsciously perceived as revolving around “me,” with all experiences interpreted in relation to this center point.

What it feels like:
A subtle but constant sense that “I” am here and everything else is “out there.” This shows up as an ongoing need to check in with ourselves about how we think or feel about what’s happening, reinforcing the idea that we are the reference point of experience.

When it breaks:
At full awakening, the subject-object duality no longer holds. Experience is no longer filtered through a central “me,” and boundaries between self and other dissolve.

Fetter 7: Belief in Tangible “Somethings”

What it is:
The belief that we have an internal faculty—perception—that apprehends real, tangible “somethings,” whether physical objects, thoughts, or feelings.

What it feels like:
Life appears full of distinct, separate entities. We habitually assume our perceptions correspond to actual things, giving rise to a subtle sense of solidity in objects, thoughts, and space. This can make experience feel stable but also reinforce a sense of separation: there is the perceiving self on one side and the “things” perceived on the other.

When it breaks:
At full awakening, this belief fully dissolves. We no longer assume that we perceive tangible, inherently existing things. Objects, thoughts, and even our own body are recognized as interpretive images or appearances rather than independently real things. (see Kevin Schanilec for more)

Fetter 8. Conceit (Comparing Self to Others)

What it is:
Subtle pride: comparing oneself as better, worse, or equal to others. In psychology, this resembles social comparison and social identity fixation.

What it feels like:
“I’m ahead of them on the path” or “I’ll never measure up.” Either way, self is constantly measured against others.

When it breaks:
At full awakening. Comparison loses meaning. Life is lived without constant reference to self or others.

Fetter 9. Restlessness

What it is:
General mental agitation—endless planning, worrying, or distractedness. Psychologically, it aligns with anxiety and attention fragmentation.

What it feels like:
Trying to meditate but feeling pulled in a thousand directions. Or lying in bed replaying conversations, unable to settle. Analysis paralysis.

When it breaks:
At full awakening. The mind naturally rests without effort, no longer chasing stimulation.

Fetter 10. Ignorance (Not-Knowing)

What it is:
The underlying tendency to grasp onto false concepts, beliefs, and thoughts about reality—especially the assumptions that permanence, self, or lasting satisfaction can be found. This final subtle “not-knowing” fuels all prior misconceptions and mental fabrications. It is the habitual inclination to interpret experience as if we truly understand or can control it, when in fact we do not.

What it feels like:
This shows up as subtle disappointment, anxiety, or striving when things don’t match our internal model of how life should be. Even mundane experiences—thinking, planning, interacting—carry this hidden bias of “I know how things are or should be.”

When it breaks:
At full awakening, this final fetter dissolves completely. There is no longer any need to believe in any concept. Whatever happens simply happens, and we respond without adding suffering or expectation.

Practical Ways to Work with the Fetters

Working with the fetters doesn’t mean forcing them away. It means recognizing them as they appear, understanding their mechanics, and loosening their grip. Some practical strategies include:

Mindfulness practice to observe craving, anger, or restlessness without acting on them.
Critical thinking to challenge identity views or doubt.
Self-compassion to soften ill-will and comparison.
Body-based practices like breathing or grounding to ease restlessness.
Journaling or therapy to uncover ignorance and blind spots.

Each time a fetter is seen clearly, its power weakens.

Worksheet: Identifying Our Mental Chains (Fetters)

Instructions: The ten fetters are mental chains that keep us bound to cycles of suffering. Each fetter shows up as a specific pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior. Use the table below to reflect on your current experiences. For each fetter, ask yourself: Do I notice this in myself right now? How strongly is it present? What does it feel like in my life? Download Worksheet Here.
©awakeningcollective.org

Fetter	How It Feels	Reflection Questions
1. Self-Identity Views	Defensiveness, shame, anxiety when roles shift.	What self-stories am I defending right now? Do I feel stuck in an identity?
2. Uncertainty (Doubt)	Spinning thoughts: “What if I can’t? What if I’m wrong?”	Am I feeling blocked by indecision? Where do I lack trust in myself or the path?
3. Attachment to Rituals & Habits	Fear of breaking rituals; magical thinking about habits.	Do I believe a practice guarantees happiness? Am I flexible or rigid with my routines?
4. Sensual Craving & Desire	Restless wanting; chasing stimulation.	What am I craving right now? Do I believe this desire will complete me?
5. Ill-Will (Aversion)	Snapping, holding grudges, simmering negativity.	Who or what am I resisting? Do I see these feelings as “me”?
6. Insistence on Material Form	Constant sense of “I” here and “world” out there.	Do I feel like life is happening to me rather than through me?
7. Insistence on Subtle Form	Experience feels made of separate, lasting concepts.	Do I assume my definitions & perceptions reflect reality as it is?
8. Conceit (Comparisons)	Comparing progress, value, or worth.	Am I comparing myself to others? How does that make me feel?
9. Restlessness	Anxiety, planning, racing thoughts.	Where is my attention pulled? Can I rest in this moment?
10. Ignorance (Not-Knowing)	Subtle disappointment, striving, hidden bias of “I know.”	What am I assuming about how life should be? Can I allow not-knowing?

Fetters Spiral

The Wheel of Identification is a conceptual framework developed by The Awakening Curriculum to illustrate how the ten fetters dissolve a bit at a time in deeper and deeper ways rather than dissolve one at a time in particular order. Rather than presenting these fetters as linear stages, the wheel arranges them in pairs of opposites to highlight the dynamic and non-linear nature of spiritual awakening. Indeed, it is very rare for the fetters to break in the 1-10 order presented here in this article.

Final Thoughts on The 10 Fetters

The ten fetters provide not just an awakening roadmap, but a secular psychological model for human growth in the advanced stages of development. Each fetter highlights a different layer of entanglement, and each can be worked with directly, using modern practices like mindfulness, cognitive therapy, and self-compassion.

The fetters matter because they show us where we’re stuck and point to what freedom feels like when released. As the fetters dissolve—whether gradually or suddenly—the mind becomes clearer, emotions settle, and life feels less bound by compulsion.

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