A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t1.133

v2.c19.s3.t1.133

It was certainly also a part of the teaching method of Gotama Buddha to enthral and convince his audience by means of similes and parables. A simile or a parable is certainly not an argument; but often it has more effect on the mind, and even the intellect, of the hearer than a thousand arguments. Buddha was very well aware of this, so, he liked to embellish his speeches with similes, and his disciples followed him in this. Thus, we find in the Suttas of all the four collections a veritable flood of similes, and they are foremost in investing these speeches with a literary character and artistic value.