A story of 4 Wives

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most. He adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He loved his 2nd wife too. 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 about 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 1st 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!

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

3rd wife is our possessions, wealth and status. When we die, they all go to others

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

1st wife is in fact our soul. It is often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure.

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.

Meditation my way

Spiritual quotient is the buzz word of the modern day management.


No doubt Indian gurus mint money all over the world spreading the spiritual management to the corporates and also doing yeomen service.


Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation and list goes on and on. Newspapers, magazines, websites invariably all of them carry pages of reports on teh benefits of these to common people. More so, the bigger corporates insists on practicing this and are getting benefited in this.


"why dont you try it! its amazing!" my pal shared. I never dared to ask him whether had he tried it or not for what would he think about me! Perhpas this may be worth trying and i am a novice who is unaware of what meditation is let alone its benefits.


I have seen my boss used to go on a meditation spree after his lunch for 30 minutes in his cabin and we are not supposed to disturb him. My neighbor also persuaded me to join him in meditation. till then i never knew that meditation could be done in a joint venture.


Influenced by various temptations, i decided to give it a try. i started gathering books, cds on meditation. I wanted to try it myself initially before paying some one else. The fees were exhorbitant is another reason.


One fine sunday afternoon after a delicious dinner i spread the mat on the hall. My wife instructed me to use the Vaccum cleaner on which a spider had spun a web (while this was supposed to be remover of cob-webs). i said not now. some time later. i wanna meditate so dont disturb.


My wife was perplexed. "what meditation and you? how can you do that without proper guidance! its not as easy as you think. now shelf this idea and start using this vaccum cleaner!"

I thought she is more worreid about her house-hold chores and not allowing me to do meditation.


I ignored her advice and proceeded further. I sat in padmasana. (what a tough posture) as i could not sit in that position for no longer than a minute, i simply sat with my legs crossed. I closed my eyes and started to focus on the blank screen that i imagined.


I was distrubed by my son who was playing his key-board. I gave him exemption for that day and asked him to go and play. I started my exercise again. I tried to focus the blank screen. Now i drew an imaginary blot on the screen and tried to focus it. now i felt as if i am slowly entering meditation.


I did not know how long i meditated till then my wife shook me and said, "what happened to you! since when you started sleeping in afternoons that too in sitting posture?"

No need to mention that was the last day i tried meditating.