Bodhisatta and the Cursed Suit: Rejecting Superstitions

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once an ascetic. During this time, a brahmin priest who predicted the future by examining pieces of cloth found a suit that mice had gnawed on. This suit was considered so cursed that not even his servants could wear it. The priest’s son, fearing the suit’s supposed evil influence, took it out on the end of a stick, like carrying a snake, and flung it into the charnel ground along with the corpses.When the Bodhisatta saw the suit, he decided to take it for himself. The priest’s son informed his father about the Bodhisatta’s actions, and the priest, fearing for the Bodhisatta’s safety, pleaded with him to throw the suit away. However, the Bodhisatta told the priest that people should not believe in superstitions that are not approved by perfect Buddhas, private Buddhas (those who reach enlightenment on their own and do not teach the path to others), or Bodhisattas.Hearing this, the priest gave up his beliefs in superstitions and followed the teachings of the Bodhisatta.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. The brahmin priest of the past and his son were earlier births of a brahmin priest and his son who lived during the Buddha’s time. The brahmin of the Buddha’s time also predicted the future by looking at pieces of cloth and found a suit that a female mouse had gnawed on. He sent his son to discard it in the charnel ground.The Buddha, aware of the situation, waited for the son at the charnel ground and took the suit despite the son’s earnest warnings. Concerned for the Buddha’s safety, the father tried to give him different clothes, but the Buddha refused them. Instead, he preached to the pair that wise men reject superstitions.Hearing this, the father and son abandoned their beliefs in superstitions and followed the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha told them this story to illustrate that the exact same thing had happened to them in the past, highlighting the recurring theme of rejecting superstitions and following wise teachings.

Moral

The Mamgala Jataka teaches us about the importance of rejecting superstitions and adhering to wise and rational teachings. The story emphasizes that true wisdom comes from understanding and following the principles taught by enlightened beings, rather than believing in unfounded superstitions. The Bodhisatta’s actions serve as a model for how to approach life with a rational and enlightened mindset. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of critical thinking and the rejection of beliefs that are not grounded in wisdom and reason.