The five lower fetters - 1) personality view, 2) doubt, 3) attachment to rites and rituals, 4) sensual desire, and 5) ill will - are described in brief. The four establishments of mindfulness should be cultivated for directly knowing, full understanding, complete exhaustion, and giving up of these five lower fetters.

SN 47.103 Orambhāgiya sutta - Lower Fetters

“Bhikkhus, there are these five lower fetters. What five? 1) |personal existence view::view of having an individual identity, as an embodied being, seeing oneself as the owner of the body and mind [sakkāyadiṭṭhi]|, 2) |doubt::uncertainty, indecisiveness, lack of confidence in the Buddha’s teachings [vicikicchā]|, 3) |clinging to rules and observances::clinging to precepts and practices, adherence to rites and rituals [sīlabbataparāmāsa]|, 4) |sensual desire::interest in sensual pleasure, sensual impulse [kāmacchanda]|, and 5) |ill will::intentional act of mentally opposing or rejecting others; an intentional construction fueled by aversion, directed against kindness or compassion. It manifests as hostility of will, impeding goodwill and fostering internal or external conflict. [byāpāda]|. These are the five lower fetters.

For the |direct knowledge::experiential understanding [abhiññāya]|, |full understanding::complete comprehension [pariññāya]|, |complete exhaustion::gradual and complete wearing away [parikkhaya]|, and for |giving up::letting go, abandoning [pahāna]| of these five lower fetters, the four establishments of mindfulness |should be cultivated::should be developed [bhāvetabbo]|.”

Last updated on July 9, 2025

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