[00:00.28] Unit 92 Four Wives There was a rich merchant who had four wives.
[00:07.33] He loved the fourth wife the most, taking great care of her and giving her nothing but the best.
[00:14.04] He also loved the third wife very much.
[00:16.57] He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends.
[00:22.19] However, the merchant was always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
[00:28.21] He, too, loved his second wife.
[00:30.51] She was very considerate and patient.
[00:33.44] Whenever the merchant faced any problems, he always turned to his second wife and she would always help him out and put him through difficult times.
[00:43.48] Now, the merchant's first wife was a very loyal partner and ad made great contributions in maintaining is wealth and business as well as taking care of the household.
[00:55.11] However, the merchant did not love her and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took any notice of her.
[01:03.28] One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon.
[01:10.12] He thought of his luxurious life and told himself," Now I have four wives with me.
[01:17.09] But when I die, I 'll be alone. How lonely I 'll be!" Thus, he asked the fourth wife,
[01:24.39]" I loved you most. Now that I 'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?
[01:30.51]"" No way!" replied the fourth wife and she walked away without another word.
[01:37.31] The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.
[01:42.23] The sad merchant then asked the third wife," I have loved you so much for all my life.
[01:49.32] Now that I 'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"" No!" replied the third wife.
[01:57.07]" Life is so good over here! I 'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.
[02:06.33] He then asked the second wife," I always turned to you for help and you 've always helped me out.
[02:14.17] Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?
[02:20.46]"" I 'm sorry, I can not help you out this time!" replied the second wife." At the very most,
[02:27.45] I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was driven to despair.
[02:37.06] Then a voice called out," I 'll follow you, wherever you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife.
[02:47.16] She was so skinny, as if she suffered from malnutrition.
[02:51.40] The merchant said," I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!
[02:58.38]" Actually, we all have four wives in our lives: The fourth wife is our body.
[03:05.26] No matter how much time and effort we spend in making it look good, it 'll leave us when we die.
[03:12.11] The third wife is our possessions, status and wealth.
[03:16.08] When we die, they all go to others.
[03:19.35] The second wife is our family and friends.
[03:22.48] No matter how close they have been there for us when we 're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
[03:31.10] The first wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure.
[03:39.30] Guess what?
[03:40.51] It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go.
[03:45.06] Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we 're on our deathbed to lament.