“The disappearing smoke of a cigarette,
Ashes of a human life,
Smoked by the immortal god,
Who creates does destroy,
What is for eternity, stays for long!”
The disappearing smoke of a cigarette…life is a thread of fate. “One and only life” is what we perceive it to be. It is a sleep and a forgetting…or forgetting of a sleep…awakening from a slumber nap to a sleep of eternity where wholeness is never thought of.
…ashes of a human life…indeed, as we smoke a cigarette, what remains are the ashes on the ground which later is wiped out of its existence by external forces. Although we wish to prove its former existence, we consequently fail because the fragments of cigarette can never be joined again; although new ones can be made from new material. The only way of showing its former existence is by those ashes which lies on the ground but is soon to fade away. Like it, the existential identity of human life has never been answered satisfactorily. A flux of opinion always sways between philosophers. Although some explanations of existence is persuading and seem more real than other, explanations relating “once upon a time” existence of human life is not. The only thing to console us remains in the fact that “once upon a time, s/he lived”. Because the proof of their existence has been swept away like that of the cigarette, they seem like an illusion. The ashes of our body for sometime remains, but with time, will fade accordingly.
…smoked by the immortal god/Who creates does destroy…whenever questions of existence or queries of which we cannot answer comes, we surrender everything to God saying he created this. It is an easy way of escaping by the help of sophistical philosophy (for the simple fact that it cannot be challenged). Indeed. The one who creates does destroy. Consequently, the god who gave us life in turn does take it away from us. In the beginning, we are like a newly brought cigarette of different brands and taste (as one individual is different from the other), which god starts to smoke. Accordingly, our life shortens. Our impression lasts on the pace He is smoking and blowing out the smoke. As a result, some live longer while some fall prey to untimely demise. In the end, nothing remains of our former existence and glory save the ashes to show that we once lived. We become another name in the history.
...what is for eternity stays long! ...and yes! What is for eternity will always stay. “The eternally good…the first cause”, like Plato said always remains. Then, what is eternal in human life; one may ask. With reference to my previous article, I once again say that it is the soul. “…god did create something that is as immortal as him. He created something that has undoubtedly withstood time…traveled the world by drifting in the air to re-live once again; giving life to another mortal body. He created the “Soul!” A soul that is as immortal as him” (from: Quest…what did God create?)
Soul is the very thing that god cannot smoke as it resembles thin air. Like the smoke of a cigarette that disappears in the air every time we smoke; our soul is no different.
Every time god shortens our life, our soul escapes little by little and disappears in the environment. Consequently, although He smokes our body in mere pleasure, He fails to smoke our soul.
Then, the soul which is eternal stays for long…
It is like the air that we breathe and yet cannot see or taste. We accept its shapelessness and do not bother it. Likewise, god too doesn’t bother our soul.
Therefore, what is for eternity, stays forever.
About Me
- Pratik Rimal
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Ever since I first started to write my first poem and article, I've loved to write. I continue to learn to write. In doing so, I let my feelings, thoughts, and emotions run wild and let people know what I intend to say, what I want to say. For me, writing is a creative expression to express what we never can say by speaking... Your readings and feedback are always important to me. Therefore, I wish that you'd write to me. My email address: pratik.rimal@hotmail.com Cell: +977-98511-42610
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Effective Speaking
Unable to speak or communicate effectively, many people undergo emotional conflicts. These conflicts constitute of anger, hatred, and other negative emotions. Of the large population, only few express themselves in words; either as letters, articles, poems or other forms of literature. Contrary to it, the overwhelming denizens of the world speak to communicate. Moreover, speaking is such an acquired habit that even those who write’ and write the finest; speak.
Although writing is bliss to reflect emotional attachments or conflicts, few people understand the theme expressed in these words. The majority fails. The case is even worse in expressing our emotions through poetry and fictional works because the intended message in it is cryptic. First of all, one doesn’t know if that piece is meant for him/her. When the emotions are expressed in fictional works like short stories, one actually believes it to be of complete imagination. Moreover, one has to go into depth to understand these aims which tend to be subjective or objective. Furthermore, to understand these messages, the reader has to reach into the author’s life. S/he has to understand why the writer wrote this piece, on what circumstances, is it pure fiction or accidental, did they have a similar encounter, when; and most importantly, what was its consequence. Only then can a reader grasp the intended; not the “possible” meaning. Majority fall short to this understanding. That is when speaking comes into effect; and most precisely, effective speaking.
Although speaking is inborn, effective speaking is an acquired trait. Therefore, one can speak about anything, but s/he cannot speak effectively about the subject.
Here are some of my personal tips to communicate effectively:
- Contextualization: On whatever topic you are talking about, contextualizing events from your personal experience or human history is very important. This is the first step to effective speaking. It helps to grasp the attention of the audience. Likewise, it also helps to intrigue them with questions like what happened, how, when, its consequence and so forth.
- Drawing examples: A theory is a theory. Its validity is likely to expire overtime. As a result, your listeners are likely to take it lightly. This is when examples come handy. Support your topic with examples. These examples could range once again from history, personal experience and those things which you’re heard of.
- Stick to your opinion. Don’t sway: remember, when you prepared on a topic, you had made your blanket cover. Stay with it. Don’t sway here and there. This shows your inconsistency and reflects that you aren’t well prepared.
- Give counter-arguments: When you speak of something, there is bound to be counter arguments. However, on giving counter-arguments, if you start to support it and criticize your own topic, you are axing your own knee. Remember, you are giving anti-thesis to show the possibility, but precisely, weaken it by your arguments. For it, once again, you have to cite examples from the aforesaid aspects.
- Stay firm to you conclusion.
- Appreciate the queries if they seem valid: However, do not take it as a truth. View it as a “possibility” for the simple fact that truth is subjective. Despite the seemingly validity, stick with your own logic and intellect. Remember, they are asking their questions, but you prepared the material.
- Say “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure” if you don’t know. You’ll influence your audience with your honesty.
- Thank them for providing further insight on your topic: You have to express your gratitude when someone tells you something out of the blue. The insight will be useful next time.
- Don’t make your speech blunt or dry: Both diminish the attention of your audience. Present them artistically and with sound eloquence.
- Say. Don’t argue: Remember! You haven’t mastered the subject. Moreover, even if you have, the feedbacks could be a possibility; those which you haven’t had thought of.
- Apologize: Some examples are conflicting or tend to disintegrate the audience. Be very careful of this. therefore, in this case, say “I’m sorry for the example I provided or am about to provide…but this is what this says.” This will help to bar disturbance from the audience on the views or examples you expressed. However, be careful not to give personal interpretation. Relate it to the thesis or antithesis and the trend or validity of the example.
- Give reference: Intellectual Property Right (IPR) is very important. Always give credit to the person who said certain things. How did you come across this information? In which form (written or spoken)? When and so forth.
Having drawn the twelve tips from my personal experience, I do hope it will work with you. Try applying these tips if you find it useful. You could find some change in effective speaking. Well, BEST OF LUCK!
Although writing is bliss to reflect emotional attachments or conflicts, few people understand the theme expressed in these words. The majority fails. The case is even worse in expressing our emotions through poetry and fictional works because the intended message in it is cryptic. First of all, one doesn’t know if that piece is meant for him/her. When the emotions are expressed in fictional works like short stories, one actually believes it to be of complete imagination. Moreover, one has to go into depth to understand these aims which tend to be subjective or objective. Furthermore, to understand these messages, the reader has to reach into the author’s life. S/he has to understand why the writer wrote this piece, on what circumstances, is it pure fiction or accidental, did they have a similar encounter, when; and most importantly, what was its consequence. Only then can a reader grasp the intended; not the “possible” meaning. Majority fall short to this understanding. That is when speaking comes into effect; and most precisely, effective speaking.
Although speaking is inborn, effective speaking is an acquired trait. Therefore, one can speak about anything, but s/he cannot speak effectively about the subject.
Here are some of my personal tips to communicate effectively:
- Contextualization: On whatever topic you are talking about, contextualizing events from your personal experience or human history is very important. This is the first step to effective speaking. It helps to grasp the attention of the audience. Likewise, it also helps to intrigue them with questions like what happened, how, when, its consequence and so forth.
- Drawing examples: A theory is a theory. Its validity is likely to expire overtime. As a result, your listeners are likely to take it lightly. This is when examples come handy. Support your topic with examples. These examples could range once again from history, personal experience and those things which you’re heard of.
- Stick to your opinion. Don’t sway: remember, when you prepared on a topic, you had made your blanket cover. Stay with it. Don’t sway here and there. This shows your inconsistency and reflects that you aren’t well prepared.
- Give counter-arguments: When you speak of something, there is bound to be counter arguments. However, on giving counter-arguments, if you start to support it and criticize your own topic, you are axing your own knee. Remember, you are giving anti-thesis to show the possibility, but precisely, weaken it by your arguments. For it, once again, you have to cite examples from the aforesaid aspects.
- Stay firm to you conclusion.
- Appreciate the queries if they seem valid: However, do not take it as a truth. View it as a “possibility” for the simple fact that truth is subjective. Despite the seemingly validity, stick with your own logic and intellect. Remember, they are asking their questions, but you prepared the material.
- Say “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure” if you don’t know. You’ll influence your audience with your honesty.
- Thank them for providing further insight on your topic: You have to express your gratitude when someone tells you something out of the blue. The insight will be useful next time.
- Don’t make your speech blunt or dry: Both diminish the attention of your audience. Present them artistically and with sound eloquence.
- Say. Don’t argue: Remember! You haven’t mastered the subject. Moreover, even if you have, the feedbacks could be a possibility; those which you haven’t had thought of.
- Apologize: Some examples are conflicting or tend to disintegrate the audience. Be very careful of this. therefore, in this case, say “I’m sorry for the example I provided or am about to provide…but this is what this says.” This will help to bar disturbance from the audience on the views or examples you expressed. However, be careful not to give personal interpretation. Relate it to the thesis or antithesis and the trend or validity of the example.
- Give reference: Intellectual Property Right (IPR) is very important. Always give credit to the person who said certain things. How did you come across this information? In which form (written or spoken)? When and so forth.
Having drawn the twelve tips from my personal experience, I do hope it will work with you. Try applying these tips if you find it useful. You could find some change in effective speaking. Well, BEST OF LUCK!
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