Who Will Go With You When You Die

Eternity

          Death is the permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Throughout history different mythologies depict death in different ways. But in almost all of them there is a theory of heaven and hell. People believe that after death we either go to heaven, that means to God or we go to hell for the eternal torment of our sins. But our today's concern is that who will go with us when we will die. 

          But before knowing this let's go to a story:

A King With His Four Wives

                "Long ago when the world was young, all animals lived together in peace. There was a rich king who had four wives. One day the king fell ill and the truth drawn that his life was soon to end. He thought of the beautiful life that he had led and feared being alone when he died.

                The king loved his fourth wife most and adorn her with golden rings and precious stones all the time. So at first he went to her asked his fourth wife, 'I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered gifts upon you and taken great care over you. Now I am dying, will you follow me and keep me company?' She replied, "No way! " and walked away without another word.

               The king also loved his third wife and was always showing her off to neighbouring kingdoms. How ever he always feared that she would leave him or could be taken away from him. So the sad king went to her third wife and asked her, 'I have loved you all my life, now... I am dying. Will you follow me and keep me company?' 'No!', she replied, 'Life is too good. When you die, I am going to remarry.'

                His second wife was kind and considerate. She was always his trusted Confidante and advisor in difficult times. So the king walked to his second wife and asked her, 'I have always turned to you for help and you have always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?' She replied, 'I am sorry I can't help you out this time. But I will help you with your funerals and do all the arrangements.'

               Suddenly a voice called out the king in his sadness, 'I will leave with you and follow you no matter where you go.' The king looked up... And there he saw his first wife. He had always taken her for granted and never really cared about her. And now when he looked her in her eyes she was so skinny and undernourished, he felt ashamed. He said, 'I always knew it and I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance."

          The truth of, the story is not about a king or his four wives, it is about you and me and everyone else. We all have four wives. Our fourth wife is our body, no matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die. It will be burned or buried or...

          Our third wife is our possessions and our wealth, the things that we own. When we die it will go to others or it will be divided up. That's why the king was always afraid that his third wife would leave him or could be taken away from him. And that's why she says in the story that she will remarry when he is gone.

          Our second wife is our family, our friends the people who love us. No matter how much they have supported and loved us all our life the farthest they can stay by us, is up to the grave. They can't come with us to the last step even if they want to. It is not possible. That's why the second wife said in the story that she will take care of the funeral and all the arrangements, but she can't help him out this time.

          Our first wife is our soul. She is the first because we always had her from the beginning. And that's why we often neglect her, because she was given to us for free. The things that come for free are always neglected. We don't take care of them anymore. But our soul will always be with us. Even when we die it will follow us to the next step which we don't know what it is. But the soul will be with us forever. That's why even though the first wife was neglected in the story, she said to the king, "I will follow you no matter where you go".

          So the moral of the story is that you should care for your body and keep it healthy so that you can live life to its fullest. It's good to have a healthy body. With a healthy body you can enjoy your possessions, the pleasure and the comfort that they provide. Instead of the material things, cherish your friends and family and the love they provide. But never forget your soul because you and your soul are bound together for eternity. Your soul will provide to be your most faithful friend.

          Who ever you are and where ever you are in the world right now I wish you all the best and stay blessed.