once upon a time...there was a rich King who had 4
> 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 to 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 and 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 pondered, "I
> now have 4 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 thunder 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, 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'll 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.  
> 
> Let it Shine!