009 – Makadeva the king
While some monks was talking about the Buddha’s priesthood, the Buddha said “I’ve not only become a priest in this life.” The monks asked the Buddha to reveal this story, so the Buddha told his story as follows:
In those days, there was a king named Makadeva, who ruled the throne morally. One day, he called his barber and said “My barber, whenever you see my white hair, please tell me.”
Year passed, the barber saw one white hair on the king’s head. Therefore, he told the king as ordered “My majesty, you have one white hair.”
“My friend, please pull out that hair and put in my hand.” the king ordered.
The barber used a golden tweezer to pull out the white hair and placed down on the king’s hand.
When the king saw white hair, although the king is not old, he felt that the death is coming. He thought “Silly Makadeva, you never think of renouncing desires until you have white hair.” and decided to renounce his worldly life on that day.
He called his eldest son and ordered “Look, my son, I have a white hair. I’m an old man now. I have had enough worldly happiness. I’ll search for divine happiness. It’s time for me to become a priest. May you reign the throne. I’ll practice in Makadeva garden.”
Royal followers asked the king “My majesty, what is your reason to become a priest ?”
“My white hair appears. Deity appears. This is the time for being a priest.” The king replied.
The king became a priest on that day and kept practicing in the garden. After he passed away, he was born in the realm of Brahman. After that he was born as the king in the same country and became a priest in the garden again. After passed away, he was born in the realm of Brahman again.
The barber finally reincarnated as Anon, a famous Buddhist saint. The eldest son of the king finally reincarnated as Rahul, the son of the Buddha. The king finally reincarnated as the Buddha.