Why are we not already enlightened? How did we come to be so painfully separated from reality? Buddhism doesn’t offer many answers to this obvious question—but the Buddha’s teaching on the fetters is one.

'Even if the veil of self is as thin as an eyelid, it will blind us to the reality of things as they are.'  Rumi

Enlightenment is the state of being awake. And the Ten Fetters are ten illusions or beliefs that keep us from waking up. The Buddha showed us how—like him—we can see through these illusions, breaking the fetters one by one.

We begin, as we must, with the first fetter: self-view. Seeing through this illusion is like untying our hands. It’s the first step on the path to freedom. But there’s another way of looking at the fetters—one that tells the story of how the illusion of a separate self came into being in the first place. This story begins not with self-view, but with the tenth fetter: ignorance.

On this retreat, we’ll explore the fetters in our own experience through reflection and insight inquiry—taking inspiration from the beautiful images of awakening offered by the Persian poet Rumi.

'The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want. Don't go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch.

The door is round and open. Don't go back to sleep.'  Rumi 

For more information, read the retreat information sheet. 

This retreat is for people who already practice with the Triratna Buddhist Community and have a basic grasp of the mindfulness of breathing and the metta bhavana, and basic Buddhist principles, as taught in Triratna.