Once there was a wealthy man who had four wives. As he lay on his deathbed, he called his wives one by one and asked if any of them would accompany him on his final journey.
He turned to his first wife, the one he loved the most. She was adorned in the finest clothes and jewelry, and he had always prioritized her above all. He asked, “My love, will you come with me?” She coldly replied, “I’m sorry, but I cannot. When you die, I will find someone else and move on.”
Heartbroken, he turned to his second wife, the one he always relied on for advice and support. “Will you come with me?”he asked. She sighed and said, “I will walk with you to the grave, but no further.”
Desperate, he called his third wife, the one he had worked hard for and cherished greatly. “Will you accompany me?” he pleaded. She shook her head and said, “I cannot go with you. The moment you are gone, I will belong to someone else.”
Feeling hopeless, he finally looked toward his fourth wife—the one he had ignored all his life, giving her little attention or care. To his surprise, she stepped forward and said, “I will go with you, no matter where you go.”
This is a traditional folk parable, often passed down orally by Vedantic teachers to illustrate profound spiritual truths. Though not found in any specific scripture, the story reflects core ideas from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita—particularly the teachings on impermanence, attachment, and the eternal nature of the soul.
Who do you think these wives are?
Each wife represents something in our lives:
- The first wife symbolizes the body, which we tend to and adorn but cannot take with us.
- The second wife represents family and friends, who love and support us but must part at the grave.
- The third wife is wealth and possessions, which we work hard to accumulate but cannot carry beyond death.
- The fourth wife, the most neglected, is the soul (Ātman)—our true essence, the only companion on our final journey.
Yoga therapy understands health as a dynamic state of harmony across all layers of being—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It’s not limited to working with the body or mind alone. Instead, it seeks to gently reverse the common pattern of neglecting our deeper inner self.
Rooted in ancient yogic philosophy and psychology, and supported by modern science, yoga therapy offers a multidimensional path to well-being—one that nourishes the whole person, including the often-overlooked soul.
Through movement, breath, reflection, and stillness, we begin to reconnect with that fourth wife—the quiet, enduring presence within—the one who never leaves.