(A Poem by Paul Lee Taylor based on the storybook from India, The Jataka Tales Revisited)
The Buddha Sakyamuni once sat in a hall with some of his disciples. The quality of his renunciation the monks praised, knowing it was no trifle.
He said that he had practiced renunciation in a previous lifetime all too well. Saying so to his followers, the story now he began to tell:
“In Mithila, the realm of Videha, Makhadeva was the king who ruled, A righteous king who lived 84,000 years yet still vigorous and youthful.
One day when he got a haircut, his barber found a gray hair on his head. ‘Don’t just look at it; pull it out and hand it to me instead!
I am indeed a foolish man; I have wasted so much time and insight.’ In the hair, he had seen to welcome him Death dancing in delight!
‘This day, I will renounce this world; to the life of a monk I am driven.’ To the barber, he gave a village; the kingdom to his eldest son he had given.
Making the decision known to his ministers, who did not know why he would give such a luxury, Getting himself ordained as a monk, he went and lived a hermit’s life in the forestry.
After years of cultivation and attaining an exalted level, he ascended to Heaven. Here Shakyamuni added, “Oh, it is I that was that king o’ brethren!
Lo, these gray hairs are Death’s messengers who come to rob the life of me! ’Tis time I turned away from worldly things and in a hermit’s path sought the saving peace.”
