Bodhisatta and Wicked: A Tale of Names and Destiny

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was once a teacher with many students, one of whom was named Wicked. Wicked, dissatisfied with his name, wanted to change it to a more fortunate one and asked the Bodhisatta to choose a new name for him. However, the Bodhisatta refused to do so and instead advised Wicked to travel until he found a name he liked.Wicked set out on his journey, visiting village after village and listening to various names. During his travels, he encountered several individuals whose names seemed ironic given their circumstances. He saw a man named Quick being carried to the cemetery, a slave named Rich being beaten by her master and mistress for not bringing home enough money, and a man named Guide who was lost.When Wicked commented on the oddity of these names not matching their situations, everyone he met told him he was a fool for thinking that a name could influence one’s fate or circumstances. They explained that names only serve to identify who is who, nothing more.Upon returning home, Wicked told the Bodhisatta that he had learned his lesson and decided to keep his original name.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

This tale has a significant connection to the Buddha’s later life. The student named Wicked in the story was an earlier birth of one of the Buddha’s disciples, who was also named Wicked. When the Buddha heard that this disciple was dissatisfied with his name and wanted to change it to a more fortunate one, he told him this story.The Buddha explained that names only tell who is who and do not influence one’s fate or circumstances, and that it was not the first time this disciple had wanted to change his name. This narrative served to remind the disciple of the futility of changing one’s name in hopes of altering one’s fortune.

Earlier Births

The Bodhisatta’s other students in the story were earlier births of the Buddha’s disciples, highlighting the recurring theme of the Bodhisatta’s interactions with his followers across different lifetimes.

Moral

The Namasiddhi Jataka teaches us about the importance of understanding that names are merely labels and do not determine one’s destiny or circumstances. The story emphasizes that true character and fate are not influenced by what one is called, but rather by one’s actions and virtues. The Bodhisatta’s advice serves as a model for how to approach life with a rational and enlightened mindset, while Wicked’s journey serves as a cautionary tale about the futility of seeking to change one’s fortune through superficial means. This tale underscores the Buddhist principle of focusing on inner qualities and actions rather than external factors such as names.