Why go to University

We may wonder why to take university classes and to bar so many extra responsibilities. We could pass the time more enjoyably. Instead of paying money for university education. We could earn it by getting a job. The exam result does not always make us happy. Knowledge does not always bring us happiness. Knowledge is the source of many of the social evils.
But there are many more advantages of going to university. First of all, the more educated you are, the more you earn, and the more easily you are promoted. For the nation also, educated people are more important than the land, natural resources or population. Educated person make the quality of life batter.

Secondly, knowledge can be practically useful. We can protect our self from much trouble and also save our money. An educated person can solve many of the problems easily. He or she behaves more rationally.

Thirdly, the more educated you are, the batter health you enjoy. You know the risk of smoking and you do not smoke. You tried to prevent many risk or reduce them. You live a meaningful life. You will not run the risk of dying on the operation table.

Fourthly, as physical exercise is good for your health, so is mental exercise for your brain. Gaining knowledge is the exercise of the brain.

Fifthly, knowledgeable people have been respected in any society at anytime in human history. A person may have so many good qualities, but if he is uneducated he will not be respected in the society as well as in his own eyes. An educated person generally feels batter about himself

Sixthly, children and animals are curious to learn everything around them. But human being as they grow older loses some of the curiosity. Love of knowledge for the sake of knowledge is a universal phenomenon. In many culture this has been ignored. We make cultivate these aspects by going to university.

Seventhly, we can widen our social horizon. University provides us a new opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Eighthly, education gives us freedom. We can understand our own thoughts and desires and make as free from indoctrination systematic teaching along time.

Ninthly, we can learn something about the universe. We understand that human beings are a part of living things, and that human civilization and environment can be protected or destroyed by human activities.

Finally, culture develops in a democracy and democracy becomes stable in the country where there are educated
People. They can judge the policy and the policy makers. They will not be biased cone sided . Although politician use the power for their own advantages. Educated citizen can chose the right leaders. The future of humanity depends on the right decisions of the people. By going to university, people can learn what is right and what is wrong     

The Library card

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
One day, Richard Wright reads articles on H.L Memken. He likes the article so much that he makes up his mind to read other works of the author. With this intension, he approach one of the catholic English officer for whom he has earlier got books from the library. Mr. Falk lends him library card. Equipped with this card and forged note by Falk, Richard entered the library. The librarian looked at him doubtfully but gives him two books by Menken. Richard is pleased. He goes through Menkem prejudices and find it very interesting. He is inspired to write like the author, but realize his inability to do so. How ever, the book encourages him to read other authors who are maintained in it. As he borrows more books, his thirst for knowledge and his desire to write increases. He starts identifying himself and the others around him with the characters in the books. Unconsciously, through those books, he creates a barrier between himself and others. He also starts considering his mission in his life. But is worried about fulfilling it

INTERPRETATION
This story may be trying to tell us that a strong desire is the main cause of the success. One need not go to school or colleges to educate one self. It may also be interpreted to mean that reading makes once life batter and more meaningful.

CRITICAL THINKING
When I read this story written by an African American writer in the beginning of the 20th century, I was socked. Was a Negro so hatful in the democracy like the USA? Was there such a great discrimination between the black and the white? Otherwise this story is excusable and inspiring.

ASSIMILATION
This story has influence me a lot. I learned the way to improve the language. In order to learn English easily I must read more books in English. English grammar and dictionary will not help me very much. If I reads more and enjoy the book of the same time, my life and my knowledge of the language will be batter.

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The Astyage's Revenge

Literal Comprehension
An Astyages, the king of media dreamed that his daughter's urine flooded the whole Asia. Then she was married to a Persian. Again the king dreamed that our of his daughter's private part, there grew a covering all Asia. After consulting the dream interpreter, he called back his daughter from Persia. She was imprisoned because the majai had told the king that his grandchild would become a king in his palace. When she gave birth to a son, the king called his most faithful officer, Harpagus, and asked his to expose the child. He also warned him not to give this task to anyone. But Harpagus did not like to kill the royal child. He sent for the king's shaphard mitradutes and instructed him this task. Mitradutes expose his own dead child as a royal child. And he brought up the royal child as his own. Once in a play in their village this child was made king and he punished the boy of Astyger's officer. Then this child and the sharphert were taken to the court. The king came to know that it was his own grandchild, and harpagus was asked to send his son to the palace. In first the king gave harguse his son's place to eat. And thus the king took revenge on harpagus for disobeying the royal order, later the king sent his grandson, syrus to his parent's house in Persia because the majai had told him that the would no longer became the king in his place

INTERPRETATION
This story might be tying to tell us that the rulers do anything to sustain their power and that politics regards neither blood nor relation. This story tell us that that suffering of the people where there is no freedom. This story may also be interpreted to mean that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

CRITICAL THINKING
The modern readers discharge with many things in this story. Is the king so merciless to expose his own child? Could not he impression the child? Is a man so coward (8/5]?jf) as harpagus, who accept the anything the king does? if we think that this story gives a real picture of a past life, we may find if acceptable.

ASSIMILATION
By reading this story I came to know that man is basically a savage. He is so selfish that he does anything for his advantages. I also understood that politics is a dirty game. In politics anything the powerful person does is excusable the politician does not hesitate to use unfair means.

Phaedo

Synopsis

This is a philosophical story about noble death of a great person, Socrates, a s accused of unsocial activities. The story is presented through the knowledge and perspective of Phaedo, a disciple of Socrates in the form of dialogue as asked by Echecrates.

As the story begins with any information about the death of Socrates and finally concludes with the death by drinking Hemlock inside the prison. Thus the story unveils death of Socrates as he derived to believe by then society. He rather believed in philosophy and was presented as atheist. Hence, the bold and brave death was transcended him to spiritual world.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Echecrates asked phaedo to tell him about Socrates's death, and phaedo warmly welcomed the chance to remember his friend Socrates in the final hours of his life. He said that it was a surprising experience because although he was witnessing the death of dear friend, he had no pity because the way in which Socrates bravely and happily faced it, unafraid of the unknown. Socrates drank the hemlock (poison) and his friends become quite disturb. Socrates scolds them slightly and said that he had sent the woman away for fear of them reacting with tears. Phaedo said that he felt Ashamed for crying when Socrates was so dignified  and the great philosopher and man took his last breath of air before dying. Those who knew him respected highly up to the very end of his life.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that we ought to live our life as long as we gain some thing from it and that we should not be attached to it if it has nothing to offer. It may also be interpreted to mean that the dying man teach us how to live. In other words we can leave the life to the full extent  if we have no fear of death.

CRITICAL THINKING
When we read this story we find it very difficult to believe in what Socrates has done. Can a man drink poison so happily? Doesn't he like to live? Is his principal more important than his life? But this story has defined soul as a traveler. The soul makes a journey from this world to another. If we accept this view, we will dead tolerable..

ASSIMILATION
The life of the Socrates has influence me very much. One must have courage enough to declare once conviction and follow it. Socrates did what he had already said. Such a person is really great. If all of as hold the same attitude to life and to other things, we can make our life really valuable. We should live happily and died happily.

If Not Higher

If Not Higher
This is a story about connection between physical and spiritual world. Here the spirit transcends physical world and attain higher level of world( i.e  Heaven).  In the story Rabbi of Nemirov, during Penitential prayers and everyone try to find out but he is in the service of old people.He is not easily found in the physical world as he is embedded in the spiritual world. So the story finally admits that he has reached to spirituality if not higher. (This higher refers to heaven.)

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Once a Litvak wants to know where the rabbi of nemeroc went at the time of penitential prayers Every Friday morning. He did not believe that the rabbi went to the heaven as supposed by other people. In order to check the rabbi, he went to the rabbi's room secretly on Thursday evening and passed the night lying laying under his bed. In the morning the rabbi woke up and went to the nearby forest disguising  himself as a farmer. The litvak followed him and watch every thing. The Rabbi cut down a tree and caring the wood on his back, he went to a poor sick woman's house. He sold her the wood on credit. And put it in to the oven. Then he resisted (kf7 ug'{) the first portion of the prayer. As he kindle (afNg') the fire he resisted the second portion more happily. When the fire was ready he resisted
the third portion. Seeing all this the litvak become the Rabbi's disciple . And later when people asked him where the Rabbi went at the tine of prayer, he would reply quickly that he went to he heaven certainly although he did not go higher than that.


INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that to worship humanity is to worship god. So the Rabbi went to the sick woman's house in order to help her instead of going to the praying house. By serving her the Rabbi worship god. This story may also be interpreted to mean that the best way to give advice is to set a good example. Instead of telling people to serve the poor and the helpless, the, Rabbi first served and then he resisted the prayer.

CRITICAL THINKING
An orthodox  may ask so many questions about this beautiful story. Can a man go to heaven in his lifetime? Will a Rabbi work at the time of prayer? Should he not go to the praying house? A man feels satisfy if he can help the people in trouble and dissatisfaction is heavenly pleasure.

ASSIMILATION
When I read this story I remember devkota's poem "Yatri". In the poem the speaker request the traveler to go to the poor and the suffering people. If their wounds  are healed, the traveler will be happy. We can't see god on earth but we can see him in the form to man. Therefore those who serve human beings in trouble serve god best.

King David's Crime

King David’s Crime

Summary

The story depicted from the Bible unveils the crime committed by Christian king in the ancient time. According to the story, the king happens to see a washing woman and gets attracted to her.Although the woman clearly states that she is married but the king sends his servant to bring her.

A war between the king’s force and people honestly supported the woman’s husband. In the war, the husband dies and the woman honestly mourns the death.

Afterwards, the king David brings the woman in his palace, marries her and gives birth to a son. Thus, the king commits crime by cheating his man.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Once King David send joub, his commander to fight, but he himself remained at Jerusalem. One evening he saw Bathsheba a beautiful woman taking a bath. She was the wife of Uriah an officer in the battle field. The king sent for her and lay with her. When she became pregnant he asked joub to send Uriah. When Uriah came to the palace, the king asked him to go home, but Uriah refused to do so because his commander had been in the battle field. When he did not go home the second time, the king send him to the battle field with a letter to joub. Then joub appointed him to the forefront as ordered by the king an Uriah was killed. This massage was send to the king. And Bathsheba mourned for her husband. When the mourning was over the king married her and she bore him a son. But god was unhappy with the king.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that every one is the victim of passion. The rulers use their special power and enjoy it, but other persons suppress  this desire. It may also be interpreted to mean that every is excusable in politics. The king is free to do what ever he likes. But an ordinary citizen is punished if he or she does not helps rulers to satisfy their whims .

CRITICAL THINKING
When I read this story, I had wrong impression of the BIBLE. Aren’t their other gods' characters in the story of BIBLE? Or does king David stand for a good king? If he is a good king, what are the other ruler's views? If we read this story as a political story regardless of  morality, we can appreciate it. It truly describes human weakness. Even the king is not free from passion.

ASSIMILATION
This story has help me to understand myself batter. It is also taught me that I should not follow the example of a great person if his action is bad. Absolute power corrupts the leadership of the rulers. If the rulers are corrupt the whole society decay.Now I know why my country has not improved. Immoral and undemocratic politician have used their power for their personal benefits, not for the development of the country. There for the condition of my country becoming worse every day.

The Brave Little parrot

Summary 

Once there was a little parrot living in a jungle. The Buddha turned to be a parrot while there was a huge fire in the jungle. All the animals and insects were trapped in the fire.The parrot decided to rescue them and flew to a river and carned few drops of water in its wings.The parrot knew that it's effort alone was not enough but it continued.The Gods in the heaven were happy and were busy with delicious food.They mocked the parrot but it didn't give up its effort.Later the god was impressed and joined parrot to extinguish the fire.

Finally, the fire was , turned off and all the animals and insects louded the parrot.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
Once the Buddha was born as a little parrot in a jungle. One day a fire broke out in his jungle home because of lighting and thundering. So they run here and there to save his life first. As he was flying to the river, he sows the suffering animals bellow, trapped in the burning jungle. Then he wanted to save them. A wonderful idea came to his mind to putout the fire. He dipped in to the river water and flew back to the burning forest and released the water attached with his wings. He rapidly flew to the river and brought water. Seeing this, some of the gods in the heaven laugh at the foolishness of the parrot, but one of them was moved and flew down to the parrot in the form of golden eagle. He then advised to the parrot to save his own life. But the parrot did not like his advice. He needed his help. In order to help the parrot the god in the form of golden eagle began to weep. His tears put out the fire in a jungle. All the burned plant and animals were restored freshly. The animal prays the brave little parrot and the wonderful rain.

INTERPRETATION
This story might be trying to tell us that good intension  is always rewarded and that the action is better than advice. It was the parrot's good intension which made the god help him and thus he was able to save all the animals. So the proverb "heaven helps those who help themselves" is certainly true. This story may also be interpreted to mean that courage  is the surest weapon against danger because the parrot was able to bring everything out of danger

CRITICAL THINKING
A skeptic may raise the so many questions about this beautiful story. Do gods exist? Is reincarnation possible? Can tears putout the burned plant and animals back to life? As a reader we should read the deep meaning of the story, not the surface meaning. If we do so, many things become clear to us

ASSIMILATION
When I read this story for the first time I also considered that the parrot was a fool. But as I thought about it seriously, I understood the value of his action. I compare his action to an individual's task of building his nation. It is true that a single person can not do much for his or her nation. If the person can inspire the whole mass to do something for the country, he or she is really great. The vision to the great leaders seems meaningless in the beginning. But when it is put in to practice it can really build the nation great.

                                                                     

Yudhisthira's Wisdom

Summary of Yudhisthira's Wisdom               

Once Pandava brothers were in jungle in pursuit of a deer, they get tired and thirsty. Yudhisthira asked his brother to bring water. But the brother didn't come back and another brother went. He too didn't return. Finally, Yudhisthira himself went in search of his brothers and haappened to see them lying  down unconsciously.

Before he reached to water of a pond Yakshya ask him six question to answer.The questions are

1. "What makes the sun shine?" Answer "The power of God."
2. "What is man's surest weapon in danger?" Answer "Courage"
3. "What gives more to man than ever the earth does?" "A mother"
4. "When does a man become loved by his fellows?" "When gives up pride"
5. "What is that which makes a man happy when he has lost it?" "Anger"
6. " What can a man give up and immediately becomes rich?" "Desire"Thus, as Yudhisthira's answers satisfied Yaksha, he asked which brother he wanted to get back. Here, he asked Nakula as he was from Madri's side. Yaksha become more happy and revived all his brothers and suggested them to go to Matsya's kingdom for safer life.Thus yudhisthira's virtue of righteousness and honesty was rewarded.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
While running after a deer in the forest, the pandava brothers became thirsty. It was hot and they were tired. Then yudhisthira sent sahadev, one of his brothers to look for water. When he did not return, he sends the other three brothers one at a time. When none of them returned he himself went to look for them. He saw them lying on the ground near a pool. They were either dead or unconscious. Yudhisthira did not no that they had ignored a yakshya's warning not to drink the water of his pool until they answer his questions. Although Yudhisthira was very thirsty, he obeyed the yakshya and answers all his questions correctly. The Yakshya was pleased with him ready to revive (bring back to life) one of his brothers. Then Yudhisthira chose Nakula on the moral ground. Pleased with Yudhisthira's righteousness, the Yakshya showed himself as yama, and revived the entire four brother. He then advised them to go to Matcha and also promised to help them when they were in danger.

INTERPRETATION
This story may be trying to tell us some thing about the importance of patience, obedience to god's wisdom and right conduct. Without these qualities, the pandava brothers would not have become successful. This story can also be interpreted to mean that righteousness make us feel good here on earth. In other word good actions are immediately rewarded.

CRITICAL THINKING
An atheist may ask a lot of questions about this beautiful story. Do gods really exist? If they exist what is the proof for their existence? Is righteousness always rewarded? Aren’t the good people ever in trouble? In spite of such questions, the answer given by Yudhisthira is very simple. I am very much satisfied with the answers to the questions, "what can a man give up and immediately become rich?" "it is desire." If we have no desire we can really be happy.

ASSIMILATION
This tale has influence me very much. All the answers are Yudhisthira are simple but very powerful. If we follow his wisdom we can make our life successful. I also knew that the value of wisdom and patience. We should be as patience as Yudhisthira in time of danger

Piano Summary

The short poem is reflection about the author.Here, he recalls back his mother and laments on the effect of music produced on him.
According to the Poet, his mother used to play piano every Sunday evening while he used to press his mother's feet.Finally, the poet unveils his pain of missing his mother and admits to cry like a child.

LITERAL COMPREHENSION
It was evening. A woman was playing on the piano and singing to the speaker. Her song made him think of his childhood days. When he was a little boy and would sit under the piano. The piano would make a loud unpleasant sound. He would press his mother's feet. But she would continue playing on the piano without being disturbed and smile at her son. The speaker tried to control himself and remain with the singer in the present time. But the lady's song was so skillful that it took him again his boyhood days. When the family would sing religious song in their warm sitting room on Sunday evening, the piano played by his mother would guide him and other family members. Now the speaker did not like the song of the woman at all, because it had completed its task by taking him to his passed days with his mother. Therefore it sounded to him like a loud noise. He wanted to forget his present manhood and wish to become a child. After this he wept openly like a child.

INTERPRETATION
This poem may be tying to telling us that music take us back to our happy past. It may also be interpreted to mean that motherly love is superior to sensual love. The attraction of childhood makes us forget our manhood. More over "piano" is the poem about the power of memory.

CRITICAL THINKING
I don't agree with the speaker because being a man he wipes openly in the presents of a woman. His pride of being man does not allow him to do so. The poet has rightly observed that one can not be satisfy with the presents if he is reminded of happy past days.

ASSIMILATION
This poem has help me to understand myself better. A nostalgic feeling is equally found in human being. I have also desire to belong to my past. Sometime I think if I were a child ' I would not have to be worried about my present difficult time.