Once  upon a time...there was a rich King who had four
 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her
with rich robes and treated her to  the finest of
delicacies.  He gave her nothing but the best.  He
also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always
showing  her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he
feared that one day she  would leave him for another.
He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidante and
was always kind, considerate and patient with him.
Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in
her, and she would help him get through the difficult
times. The King's 1st wife was a
very loyal partner and had made  great contributions
in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did
 not love the first wife. Although she loved him
deeply, he hardly took  notice of her....

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was
short.  He thought of his luxurious life and wondered,
"I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll
be all alone."  Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have
loved you the 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. Her answer cut
like a sharp knife right into his heart. The sad King
then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you  all my
life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep
me company?" "No!", replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too
 good!  When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart
sank and turned cold.  He then asked the 2nd wife, "I
have always turned to you for help and
you've always been there for me. 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."
Her  answer came like a bolt of lightning, and the
King was devastated. 

Then a voice called out: "I'll  leave with you and
follow you no matter where you go." The King looked
up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as
she suffered  from  malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the
King said, "I should have taken much better care of
you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives:  Our 4th
wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort
we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us
when we die. Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status
and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.
Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how
much they have been there for us, the furthest they
can stay by us is up to the grave.  And our 1st wife
is our Soul,  often neglected in pursuit of wealth,
power and pleasures of the ego.  However, our Soul
is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.
So  cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, it is
your greatest gift to offer the world.

October 2001