Letting Go

Once there was a very famous wood carver. The animals he carved on wooden frames look so realistic and life-like. One day, the emperor summoned him and ask him for the secret behind his brilliant wood carvings.

He said, "I'm just a simple wood carver. What secret can I have? But if you really must know, before every job, I'll fast for a week in the forest."
Apparently, this allows him to let go of what's not important.

After 2 days of the fast, he'll start to let go of profits and rewards. Letting go of the profits & rewards that the job will/may bring. The profits no longer matter.

After 4-5 days, he'll start to let go of his reputation. It no longer matters to him what people may think about him and his carvings. Be it praises or criticisms, it no longer matter. Whether he does a good or bad job, it doesn't matter.

After a week, he'll start to let go of his self. His biases, emotions, thoughts, character etc.

When he reaches this stage, he'll break away from his meditation and look for a tree. He merely picks the tree that has the best "animal form" in it. So his carving is merely bringing the beauty out of the tree.

Because he was able to let go completely, he was able to see the reality for what it really is, together with all its subtleties. Because he was able to let go, his emotional and mental states were no hindrances, because they no longer matter, they do not "exist", and they do not cloud.