Are Our Bodies Ours? Poem by Nabakishore Dash

We think ourselves as sole owner
of our bodies,
can do any thing,
have the right to live
our own lives
and the law supports
such declaration.
Buddhism considers that
our bodies belong to
our ancestors,
parents, society,
all other living beings,
future generations.

They are composed of five
great elements like earth,
air, water, sky, and fire;
(The Pancha Mahabhuta)
clouds, trees, earth therefore
come together.
If we are healthy,
all can benefit from it,
if not, all including my own self,
would invariably suffer.

Ego, anger, greed are
negative energies that
impede the health and
mind embedded in our physique.
Only conscious avoidance
of those enemies with
mindful eating habits can
enable our bodies to
convey gratitude to them all
and take us to the peak.