Post by Adona Mara on Feb 2, 2007 11:06:30 GMT -5
Originally posted by Icarus
The Rich King's Four Wives
Once upon a time there was a rich king who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with robes and treated her to the finest delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the third wife very much and was always showing her off to the neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another man.
He also loved his second wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever he faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through difficult times.
The king's first 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 knew that 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 fourth 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 fourth wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut through the king's heart like a sharp knife.
The sad king then asked the third wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No!" she replied. "Life is too good! When you die, I'll remarry!"
The king's heart turned cold. He then asked the second 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, but I can't help this time." replied the second wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck the king like a bolt of lightning and he was devastated.
Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go."
The king looked up and saw his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, he said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"
So, what is the message of the above "sermon"? Well, we all have the four wives in our lives. You see, the fourth wife is our body. We can spend all the time that we want shaping and perfecting our bodies, sculpting them into powerful fighting machines, or seductive objects of sensuality, but in the end, that body will leave us. The third wife is our possessions, our status, and our wealth. When we pass on to the other side, all of these things shall pass from our ownership into the hands of others, and are really never "ours". The second wife is our family, friends, social clubs, etc. They may be the greatest friends around and lend you the best support that you can ever need or hope for, but in the end, they will only stand at your grave and bid you farewell.
But the first wife, the one that so many people take for granted, is our soul. We often neglect the first wife in pursuit of pleasing the other three wives. But, the first wife never strays, is never unfaithful, and will be there for us when we pass on.
The Rich King's Four Wives
Once upon a time there was a rich king who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with robes and treated her to the finest delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the third wife very much and was always showing her off to the neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another man.
He also loved his second wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever he faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through difficult times.
The king's first 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 knew that 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 fourth 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 fourth wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut through the king's heart like a sharp knife.
The sad king then asked the third wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No!" she replied. "Life is too good! When you die, I'll remarry!"
The king's heart turned cold. He then asked the second 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, but I can't help this time." replied the second wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck the king like a bolt of lightning and he was devastated.
Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go."
The king looked up and saw his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, he said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"
So, what is the message of the above "sermon"? Well, we all have the four wives in our lives. You see, the fourth wife is our body. We can spend all the time that we want shaping and perfecting our bodies, sculpting them into powerful fighting machines, or seductive objects of sensuality, but in the end, that body will leave us. The third wife is our possessions, our status, and our wealth. When we pass on to the other side, all of these things shall pass from our ownership into the hands of others, and are really never "ours". The second wife is our family, friends, social clubs, etc. They may be the greatest friends around and lend you the best support that you can ever need or hope for, but in the end, they will only stand at your grave and bid you farewell.
But the first wife, the one that so many people take for granted, is our soul. We often neglect the first wife in pursuit of pleasing the other three wives. But, the first wife never strays, is never unfaithful, and will be there for us when we pass on.