This book is an introductory guide to the rich, wonderful, and profound world of Buddhist similes. The Buddha often used similes as a skilful means to facilitate the understanding of teachings that otherwise could appear abstruse and dry to his listeners. This book offers the reader through the use of these similes an opportunity to widen and deepen one"s understanding of the Teaching of the Buddha. Dr. Hellmuth Hecker is a well known German writer on Buddhism. His many works include a partial German translation of the Saíyutta Nikaya, essays on the main disciples of the Buddha (published in Great Disciples of the Buddha), works dealing with various aspects of the Buddha"s teaching, as well as works on the history of Buddhism in Germany.