The Merchant with four wives

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the
most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He
took great care of her and gave hernothing but the best. He also loved
the 3rd wife very much. He was very proud of her and always wanted to
show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great
fear that she might run away with some other men. He too, loved his
2nd wife. She was a very considerate person, always patient and in
fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some
problems, healways turned to his 2ndwife and she would always help him
out and tide him through difficult times. Now, the merchant's 1st wife
was a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in
maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the
household. However, themerchant did not love the first wife and
although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her. One day,
the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die
soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4
wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the
finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying,
will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th
wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a
sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.
The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much
for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me
company?" "No!" repliedthe 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm
going to remarry when you die!" The merchant'sheart sank and turned
cold. He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and
you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die,
will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you
out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only
send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and
the merchant was devastated.
Then a voice called out :"I'll live with you. I'll follow you no
matter where you go." The merchant looked up andthere was his first
wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition.
Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better
care of you while I couldhave!"
Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives ....... The 4th wife is our
body.No matter how much time and effort we lavishin making it look
good, it'll never live with us when we die. Our 3rd wife? Our
possessions, status and wealth. Whenwe die, they all go to others. The
2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been
there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up
to the grave. BOTTOMLINE! "The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often
neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure.
Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us whereverwe
go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather
than to wait until we're on our death-bed to lament."