Bhava Tanha

the slow river of moss following the cracks in the road,
a snail climbing the cool concrete wall
remind me of my slow climb to nibbana

on my good enough walking path
I hear the soft chanting filling the air of my mind
and the kind, wise, compassionate words of the Ajahns
encouraging me on with:
"it's like this" and "the present moment is an acquired taste"

But
my mind is a raging torrent
miles away from this moment,
so many things wanting to be.

these are memories of things as they were,
and this is as they are

How could it be otherwise?

by Jerry Douglas

(bhava tanha = the desire to be or become)
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