Thought of the week :)
>
>
> > 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 her nothing but the best. He also
> > loved the 3rd wife very much. He's 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 is a very considerate person, always
> > patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the
> > merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and
> > she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
> >
> > Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made
> > great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well
> > as taking care of the household. However, the merchant 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!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here!
> > I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart 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 leave with you. I'll follow you no
> > matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there 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 could have !"
> >
> > Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives . . .
> >
> > The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we
> > lavish in making it look good, it'll never leave with us when we die.Our
>3rd wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we 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.
> >
> >
> > 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 wherever we go.
> > Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather
> > than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.
> >
> >
>
>
> > 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 her nothing but the best. He also
> > loved the 3rd wife very much. He's 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 is a very considerate person, always
> > patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the
> > merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and
> > she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
> >
> > Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made
> > great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well
> > as taking care of the household. However, the merchant 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!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here!
> > I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart 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 leave with you. I'll follow you no
> > matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there 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 could have !"
> >
> > Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives . . .
> >
> > The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we
> > lavish in making it look good, it'll never leave with us when we die.Our
>3rd wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we 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.
> >
> >
> > 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 wherever we go.
> > Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather
> > than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.
> >
> >
Last edited 03/09/02 at 20:52:09 by arica