The Sutta List of Ten Fetters

The Pali canon's Sutta Pitaka identifies ten "fetters of becoming":
  1. belief in a self (Pali: sakkāya-ditthī)
  2. doubt or uncertaint (vicikicchā)
  3. attachment to rites and rituals (sīlabbata-parāmasā)
  4. passion for pleasure (kāmarāgo)
  5. ill will (vyāpādo or byāpādo)
  6. passion for materiality (rāparāgo)
  7. passion for immateriality (arāparāgo)
  8. conceit (māna)
  9. restlessness (uddhacca)
  10. ignorance (avijjā)
The first three fetters are eradicated upon becoming a stream-enterer.
Fetters four and five are weakened upon becoming a once-returner.
The first five fetters are referred to as "lower fetters" (orambhāgiyāni samyojanānī) and all are eradicated upon becoming a non-returner.
The last five fetters are referred to as "higher fetters" (uddhambhāgiyāni samyojanānī), and are eradicated by an arahant.


The 4 Stages of Awakening
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Leigh Brasington / EmailAddr / Revised 06 May 22