Let's explore the 10 fetters in Buddhism

There are many different versions of interpretation and translations to the ten fetters in Buddhism. Best is to keep an open mind and find out for yourself which interpretation suits you best. The ten fetters are basically factors that prevent a practitioner from achieving total calmness of the mind. It binds all sentient beings to the world of suffering and pain. They are basically mental disturbances.

My interpretations of these fetters are as follow:

1. Personality perspective - This is when you are attached to the concept of a personality within you, e.g. this is my personality, this is my thought, this is how I look, this is how I feel and etc.

2. Many translate this as doubt of the Buddha’s teaching. I interpret it as cognitive dissonance. It’s the conflict between your thoughts and your emotion. A dilemma of a sort, e.g. you know you should not get angry but your temper gets the better of you.

3. Normally this is translated as Attachment to Rites and Rituals but I would interpret it as Heteronomous Morality. It’s when your morality is governed by the influence of others or higher authority instead of the actual wisdom for right and wrong. When your moral is based on reasons of right or wrong, you don’t need to believe in God/s, the rewards of going to heaven or the punishment of hell to do the right thing.

4. Sensual lust - The lust for sensual pleasure is disturbing to the mind and can never be satisfied. You are either craving for it when you have not experienced it or you will look forward to the next new experience once you have experienced it.

5. Hatred or ill-will tends to cloud the mind and prevents a person from forgiving, forgetting, and find peace.

6. Lust for mental images - Basically, it’s a lust towards good looks, beautiful or nice mental images or memory that keeps you attached to this material world.

7. Lust for vacuity - Basically the opposite of the above but in a more extreme sense. It is an emotional dislike of everything and lust for emptiness.

8. Egotistical trait. It is a sense of conceit and self-importance.

9. Emotional Agitation such as worry, boredom or restlessness.

10. This is actually unconsciousness. It’s when you continue to allow your subconscious mind (i.e. habitual or emotional mind) to be running in auto-pilot instead of your thinking mind that is in the helm.