Saw this article on the chinese newspaper today ( 新明日报) written by Master Venerable Xing Yun.
Talked about 生死．Just want to share with everyone.
Written in Mandarin, did my best to translate some into English and some left in mandarin.

~ Story ~
There’s a rich man who’s going to pass away.
He was thinking since I can’t take all the riches with me, I might as well find someone to
accompany me because when I die at least there’s someone accompanying me.　He had 4 wives.
He doted on his 4th wife a lot. So he summoned her and said this,
All the while I love you the most, I showered you with jewels and diamond rings. Now that I am dying
I wish you could accompany me to death.
The 4th wife turned pale and replied
When you were alive, you loved me a lot, for that I am grateful but it’s your death,
Even we as husband and wife , I do not wish to die with you.
So he turned to his 3rd wife.
All the while he treated her pretty well and never left her. But after listening to what the man
said, the 3rd wife nervously said I am still young, when you pass away, I can still remarry someone
else, please have a heart and find someone else.
Now he turned to his 2nd wife.
Telling what he had in mind to his 2nd wife. The 2nd wife had this to say.
I don’t have time to die with you, as all the household chores be it big and small I got to handle them.
When you passed away, I will do a grand funeral for you, since we are loving couple I would personally
send you to your burial site.
Hearing what his 3 wives said, the man was very depressed.
Without much choice left he turned to his 1st wife whom he doesn’t give much care and concern.
He never lavished her with gifts and often gave her the cold shoulder. He expected that she would
reject him straight but in the end, summon enough courage to approach her. What she said to him
surprised him. ＂夫妻本是同林鸟,你死了我当然跟你一起走”

~ The explanation of the story ~
四个太太的故事，隐喻的是我们的一生.
最钟爱的四太太就是我们的身体,我们无时无刻不关心它的健康，让它穿金戴银，打扮光鲜．但是人死了,身体不能跟
我们一起走.三太太就是我们的钱财，平时悉心的保护他,害怕别人占有.可是面临死亡时,它也不会跟随我们．
二太太就是我们的亲戚朋友，偶尔来往，也给他们一点小惠，到了我们死的时候，他们也许来上个香,送我们一程，
之后就各自忙着生计．而大老婆就是我们这颗心.平时最不关心它,直到生命的尽头，这颗心却跟我们生死相随，
只是我们陷入五欲贪爱中,随弃随心恶念,四处飘摇流浪．

开示：
人常在得到全世界的财富时,仍找不到自己的真心.
就象富翁活着时，糊里糊涂，死时，迷惑恐惧．
色身,财富，妻一样也带不走.
只有善业，恶业跟随我们，往来天堂与地狱．

Some quotes/information for thought. Of the 4, I wrote 2.
They’re what M.R often emphasized to us.

不妄求是知足的生命,
不投机是本份的性格，
不计谟是诚实的做人,
不自私是净化的身心.

平常一般人总喜欢把苦和乐,难和易,分的很清楚．
因此，苦的时候难过，乐的时候喜,有收获的时候鼓舞，因困难而伤心．
假如一个人能把这些对待的事情调和，不偏激，不极端．
那么生也好,死也好,苦也好,乐也好,难也好,易也好，这不是很洒脱自在的生活吗？