With grasping, we lose.

Without grasping, we gain. 

Let’s try an experiment.

Close your eyes and imagine reaching out your hand to pick up a small stone. With your palm facing downwards, use your fingers and thumb to pick up the stone carefully. Holding the stone tightly lest it drops, your fingers will begin to ache and cramp up after a while. You can grasp the stone for a few minutes, a few hours, or maybe longer.

But the longer you hold on, the more painful the holding becomes until at some point the inevitable happens. You release your grip. Despite all your grasping, you cannot hold on to the stone forever. It will fall and be lost.

Now, once again imagine reaching out your hand to pick up that same stone. But this time, after you pick it up, turn your hand over with your palm facing up. Open your hand and let the stone sit quietly on your palm. Your fingers are now relaxed.

With grasping, we lose.

Without grasping, we gain.