The Buddha teaches on fetters, presenting an analysis of dependent origination and the causal links that give rise to suffering.

SN 12.53 Fetters

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati. Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ; upādānapaccayā bhavo; bhavapaccayā jāti; jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, telañca paṭicca vaṭṭiñca paṭicca telappadīpo jhāyeyya. Tatra puriso kālena kālaṁ telaṁ āsiñceyya vaṭṭiṁ upasaṁhareyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, telappadīpo tadāhāro tadupādāno ciraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ jaleyya.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, saṁyojaniyesu dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati. Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ; upādānapaccayā bhavo; bhavapaccayā jāti; jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati. Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho; upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho; bhavanirodhā jātinirodho; jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti. Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, telañca paṭicca vaṭṭiñca paṭicca telappadīpo jhāyeyya. Tatra puriso na kālena kālaṁ telaṁ āsiñceyya na vaṭṭiṁ upasaṁhareyya. Evañhi so, bhikkhave, telappadīpo purimassa ca upādānassa pariyādānā aññassa ca anupahārā anāhāro nibbāyeyya.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, saṁyojaniyesu dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati. Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati.

“There are things that tighten the fetters. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows.

Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ;

Craving is a requirement for grasping.

upādānapaccayā bhavo;

Grasping is a requirement for continued existence.

bhavapaccayā jāti;

Continued existence is a requirement for rebirth.

jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti.

Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress to come to be.

Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, telañca paṭicca vaṭṭiñca paṭicca telappadīpo jhāyeyya.

Suppose an oil lamp depended on oil and a wick to burn.

Tatra puriso kālena kālaṁ telaṁ āsiñceyya vaṭṭiṁ upasaṁhareyya.

And from time to time someone would pour oil in and adjust the wick.

Evañhi so, bhikkhave, telappadīpo tadāhāro tadupādāno ciraṁ dīghamaddhānaṁ jaleyya.

Fed and fuelled by that, the oil lamp would burn for a long time.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, saṁyojaniyesu dhammesu assādānupassino viharato taṇhā pavaḍḍhati.

In the same way, there are things that tighten the fetters. When you concentrate on the gratification provided by these things, your craving grows.

Taṇhāpaccayā upādānaṁ;

Craving is a requirement for grasping.

upādānapaccayā bhavo;

Grasping is a requirement for continued existence.

bhavapaccayā jāti;

Continued existence is a requirement for rebirth.

jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti.

Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress to come to be.

Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

Saṁyojaniyesu, bhikkhave, dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati.

There are things that tighten the fetters. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your craving ceases.

Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho;

When craving ceases, grasping ceases.

upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho;

When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases.

bhavanirodhā jātinirodho;

When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases.

jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā nirujjhanti.

When rebirth ceases, old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress cease.

Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, telañca paṭicca vaṭṭiñca paṭicca telappadīpo jhāyeyya.

Suppose an oil lamp depended on oil and a wick to burn.

Tatra puriso na kālena kālaṁ telaṁ āsiñceyya na vaṭṭiṁ upasaṁhareyya.

And no-one would pour oil in and adjust the wick from time to time.

Evañhi so, bhikkhave, telappadīpo purimassa ca upādānassa pariyādānā aññassa ca anupahārā anāhāro nibbāyeyya.

As the original fuel is used up and no more is added, the oil lamp would be extinguished due to not being fed.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, saṁyojaniyesu dhammesu ādīnavānupassino viharato taṇhā nirujjhati.

In the same way, there are things that tighten the fetters. When you concentrate on the drawbacks of these things, your craving ceases.

Taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho …pe…

When craving ceases, grasping ceases. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Anxiety

Anxiety

A fluttering, unsettled state of mind, worried about past or future and unsure what is right to do. It keeps the mind circling around concerns without resolution, weakening confidence and obscuring calm discernment.

Also known as: agitation, confusion about what is right and wrong, distress, fickleness, fidgetiness, edginess, restlessness, wavering, worry
Pāli: kukkucca, uddhacca, darathaja
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Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Lamentation

Lamentation

The verbal and bodily expression of grief—crying, wailing, and mourning—that arises from loss or separation from what is held dear. It gives voice to sorrow and can deepen the mind's entanglement with pain.

Also known as: crying, wailing, mourning
Pāli: parideva
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Sorrow

Sorrow

Grief or sadness that follows loss or disappointment, dimming the mind’s natural brightness. It clouds clear perception.

Also known as: grief, sadness
Pāli: soka, socati
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026