IMPRESSIVE SIMILES IN TIPIṬAKA (I) : A SIMILE OF FIVE THIEVES

Abstract

It is not only the intensive research about the simile has discovered the importance, but the purpose and the roles of them also found in the entire Canonical scriptures. The Buddha uses similes as one of the most powerful methods of his teaching. The character and the nature of the simile that have already been studied, is that, they help the majority of the people understand the Dhamma easily. This article, therefore, attempts to dig deeply those similes in the Pāli Nikāyas. The Simile of Five Thieves is the fi rst and impressive one to be deemed, herein. This Simile is the way of teaching that the Buddha uses to explain an intricate concept of “a grave fault involving removal from monkshood” known as “Defeat” or “Offence” (pārājika) due to a state of devoid of superhuman condition of a monk.