“Taṇhā” is a buddhist concept that describes the quick “grabbing” movement we do that causes suffering. We perceive phenomena (represented by the flying spheres in this image) and experience them as having valence (blue ones pleasant, red ones unpleasant). We grasp at them either through aversion or clinging (hands reaching out or hands with knives trying to stab) and this grasping creates suffering (hooks on the skin). When we have enough sensory clarity (light through the third eye), we can let go of that quick, almost imperceptible grasping movement (light ray cutting cord). Cut the chord!