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.

Although he ruled the country for many ten thousand years, he still looked young and healthy. However, he never neglected the truth of life. He told his barber that if the barber found any whitehair, the barber must tell him as soon as possible.

After that about ten thousand years, the barber saw the first whitehair of the king. The barber told the king, took the whitehair and put down slowly to the king’s hand.

Being sad about declination of his body, the king decided to become a hermit. He rewarded the barber and talked to his son.

“My beloved son, this whitehair like a messenger of death standing in front of me. I have occupied the thrown happily long enough. It’s time to find inside happiness, which is everlasting.” the king said.

“I’ll abdicate the thrown. You should rule this city with virtues. And when you have a first whitehair, you have to abdicate the thrown and become a hermit. Don’t end this cycle.”

After that, the king abdicated the thrown, became a hermit, live in Himmapan forest, and practice the dhrama until he succeeded a high level of meditation and get reborn in higher-than-heaven world.

The barber finally reincarnated as Anon, a famous Buddhist saint. The son finally reincarnated as Rahul, the son of the Buddha. The king finally reincarnated as the Buddha.

Moral: Only inner happiness is eternal.