Fetters

Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.

[1][than][bodh] Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"There are these ten fetters, monks.

What ten?

The five fetters pertaining to this world
and the five pertaining to the higher world.^[1]

And what, monks, are the five pertaining to this world?

The view of the individual-group,
doubt-and-wavering,
wrong handling of habit-and-ritual,
sensual desire
and malevolence.

These are the five fetters pertaining to this world.

■

And what are the five pertaining to the higher world?

Lust of objective form,
lust of the formless,
conceit,
excitement
and ignorance.

These are the five fetters pertaining to the higher world."