看清你生命中的四位爱人
There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives%26#46; He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies%26#46; He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best%26#46;
He also loved the 3rd wife very much%26#46; He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends%26#46; However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men%26#46;
He too, loved his 2nd wife%26#46; She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante%26#46; 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%26#46;
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%26#46; However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her%26#46;
One day, the merchant fell ill%26#46; Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon%26#46; He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, “Now I have 4 wives with me%26#46; But when I die, I'll be alone%26#46; How lonely I'll be!”
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, and owed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you%26#46; 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%26#46;
The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart%26#46; The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you so much for all my life%26#46; Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the 3rd wife%26#46; “Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!” The merchant's heart sank and turned cold%26#46;
He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out%26#46; Now I need your help again%26#46; 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%26#46; “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave%26#46;” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated%26#46;
Then a voice called out: “I'll leave with you%26#46; I'll follow you no matter where you go%26#46;” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife%26#46; She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition%26#46; 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%26#46; No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die%26#46;
Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth%26#46; When we die, they all go to others%26#46;
The 2nd wife is our family and friends%26#46; 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%26#46;
The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure%26#46;
Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go%26#46; Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament%26#46;
从前，一位富有的商人娶了四个老婆。他最爱他的小老婆，给她华丽的衣裳和美味佳肴。他对她体贴入微，把最好的东西都给了她。
商人也很爱第三位老婆。他为她感到骄傲，并常把她作为在朋友面前炫耀的资本。但他同时也忧心忡忡，怕她与其他男人跑了。
当然，商人也爱二老婆，她既善解人意又耐心。事实上，她是商人的红颜知己。每每遇到困难，他就会找她，而她也总能帮助他走出困境，度过难关。
至于大老婆，她是一位忠诚的伴侣，替他照料生意、打理家务，忙里忙外，可谓劳苦功高。然而，尽管她爱得这么深，商人却偏不钟情于她，甚至没把她放在心上。
一日，商人得了重病，他自知将不久于人世。当他回顾自己奢华的一生，不禁心中怅然：“现在我虽然有四个老婆相伴，但死后却要孤零零一人。多寂寞啊！”
于是，他问小老婆：“我最疼你，给你买最漂亮的衣服，还对你呵护备至。现在我就要离开这个世界了，你愿意随我而去，与我相伴吗？”“绝不可能！”她丢下一句话，径自走开了。
小老婆的回答如一把尖刀插在商人心上。伤心的商人继而问第三个老婆：“我一直对你宠爱有加。如今，我将不久于人世，你愿意随我而去，与我相伴吗？”“不！”她拒绝道，“人间的生活多么美好啊！你死后我会改嫁他人！”商人的心倏地下沉，渐渐变冷。
他再转向二老婆，问道：“我过去常常求助于你，你也总能为我排忧解难。现在我想再请你帮一次忙。我死后，你愿意随我而去，与我相伴吗？”“很抱歉，这一次我帮不了你，”她说，“我最多只能让你入土为安。”这句话犹如晴天霹雳，商人彻底绝望了。
这时，旁边传来一个声音：“我愿意随你一同离去。无论你到哪里，我都会跟着你。”商人抬起头，看到了自己的大老婆。她是那么消瘦，一副营养不良的样子。商人悲痛万分，他说：“我过去就应该好好地珍惜你啊！”
其实，我们每个人的一生都有四位爱人相伴。
小老婆代表我们的躯体。无论我们花费多少的时间和精力想去装扮她，我们死后它终会弃我们而去。
第三位老婆代表财产、地位与金钱。一旦我们撒手西去，它终究会转向他人。
第二老婆则代表了我们的家人与朋友。我们活着的时候，无论他们与我们多么亲近，他们最多也只能到墓前送我们最后一程。
至于大老婆，她则是我们的灵魂。当我们沉迷于追求物质、金钱或感官享受的时候，她常常会被遗忘在一旁。
结果呢？她才是唯一与我们永远相伴的。也许从现在开始，我们就应该悉心照顾好她，而不是等到临终之际才悔恨不已。
看清你生命中的四位爱人
There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives%26#46; He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies%26#46; He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best%26#46;
He also loved the 3rd wife very much%26#46; He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends%26#46; However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men%26#46;
He too, loved his 2nd wife%26#46; She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante%26#46; 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%26#46;
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%26#46; However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her%26#46;
One day, the merchant fell ill%26#46; Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon%26#46; He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, “Now I have 4 wives with me%26#46; But when I die, I'll be alone%26#46; How lonely I'll be!”
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, and owed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you%26#46; 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%26#46;
The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart%26#46; The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you so much for all my life%26#46; Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the 3rd wife%26#46; “Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!” The merchant's heart sank and turned cold%26#46;
He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out%26#46; Now I need your help again%26#46; 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%26#46; “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave%26#46;” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated%26#46;
Then a voice called out: “I'll leave with you%26#46; I'll follow you no matter where you go%26#46;” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife%26#46; She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition%26#46; 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%26#46; No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die%26#46;
Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth%26#46; When we die, they all go to others%26#46;
The 2nd wife is our family and friends%26#46; 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%26#46;
The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure%26#46;
Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go%26#46; Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament%26#46;
从前，一位富有的商人娶了四个老婆。他最爱他的小老婆，给她华丽的衣裳和美味佳肴。他对她体贴入微，把最好的东西都给了她。
商人也很爱第三位老婆。他为她感到骄傲，并常把她作为在朋友面前炫耀的资本。但他同时也忧心忡忡，怕她与其他男人跑了。
当然，商人也爱二老婆，她既善解人意又耐心。事实上，她是商人的红颜知己。每每遇到困难，他就会找她，而她也总能帮助他走出困境，度过难关。
至于大老婆，她是一位忠诚的伴侣，替他照料生意、打理家务，忙里忙外，可谓劳苦功高。然而，尽管她爱得这么深，商人却偏不钟情于她，甚至没把她放在心上。
一日，商人得了重病，他自知将不久于人世。当他回顾自己奢华的一生，不禁心中怅然：“现在我虽然有四个老婆相伴，但死后却要孤零零一人。多寂寞啊！”
于是，他问小老婆：“我最疼你，给你买最漂亮的衣服，还对你呵护备至。现在我就要离开这个世界了，你愿意随我而去，与我相伴吗？”“绝不可能！”她丢下一句话，径自走开了。
小老婆的回答如一把尖刀插在商人心上。伤心的商人继而问第三个老婆：“我一直对你宠爱有加。如今，我将不久于人世，你愿意随我而去，与我相伴吗？”“不！”她拒绝道，“人间的生活多么美好啊！你死后我会改嫁他人！”商人的心倏地下沉，渐渐变冷。
他再转向二老婆，问道：“我过去常常求助于你，你也总能为我排忧解难。现在我想再请你帮一次忙。我死后，你愿意随我而去，与我相伴吗？”“很抱歉，这一次我帮不了你，”她说，“我最多只能让你入土为安。”这句话犹如晴天霹雳，商人彻底绝望了。
这时，旁边传来一个声音：“我愿意随你一同离去。无论你到哪里，我都会跟着你。”商人抬起头，看到了自己的大老婆。她是那么消瘦，一副营养不良的样子。商人悲痛万分，他说：“我过去就应该好好地珍惜你啊！”
其实，我们每个人的一生都有四位爱人相伴。
小老婆代表我们的躯体。无论我们花费多少的时间和精力想去装扮她，我们死后它终会弃我们而去。
第三位老婆代表财产、地位与金钱。一旦我们撒手西去，它终究会转向他人。
第二老婆则代表了我们的家人与朋友。我们活着的时候，无论他们与我们多么亲近，他们最多也只能到墓前送我们最后一程。
至于大老婆，她则是我们的灵魂。当我们沉迷于追求物质、金钱或感官享受的时候，她常常会被遗忘在一旁。
结果呢？她才是唯一与我们永远相伴的。也许从现在开始，我们就应该悉心照顾好她，而不是等到临终之际才悔恨不已。