COMMUNICATION
Communication is the
exchange of information or knowledge through the
transmission of sensory receptions and/or observations.
The value of communication is directly proportional to
the accuracy of the transfer of the intended meaning.
The communication process as it is widely known is as
follows:
Source <> Encode <> Channel <> Decode
<> Receiver <> Feedback
This process shows basically how communication initiated
between a source and a receiver is encoded, transferred
through a channel of communication, and decoded by the
receiver. Feedback is the only way for the source to
discover the accuracy of the communication. Usually, the
source tests the receiver by asking questions to see how
effective the communication has been. The receiver's
response is feedback. The more accurate the feedback, the
more likely the communication has been successful.
In order to get others to believe what one oneself
believes, present ones observations and sensory
receptions in a logical way which would justify the
conclusion one oneself believes. To do this, engage in an
argument, or debate, in which information is presented.
Likewise, if one is to believe what others believe, one
has to be shown their observations and sensory receptions
in a logical manner. Since it is difficult to transmit
ones own sensory receptions or observations directly to
another, humans have invented all sorts of ways to
communicate their sensory receptions and observations
indirectly. One way in which this is accomplished is
through the use of language.
Ones language, which is thrust upon one at a young age,
complete with its heritage of underlying symbols and
ideas, was originally based on movement and sound. The
first "words" were agreements on motions or
sounds, they were not written. The first words may have
been imitations of sounds one heard in ones environment.
Words are attempts to conceptualize sensory receptions
and observations. In a way, to describe one set of
sensory receptions and observations with another. Because
we can rarely communicate through sensory reception
directly (such as when we touch each other), we
communicate sensory receptions and observations through
conceptualization of those sensory receptions and
observations into inferior observations, which can be
communicated. Thus, the birth of language. Words are
concepts, and concepts are micro beliefs created when one
associates observations with a particular word. To speak
is to affect all who hear you. Look at all the steps that
take place just to communicate an observation to someone:
Communication of Observation Process:
Observation to Transmit
V
Translation of Observation into Concept
V
Transmission of Concept
V
Sensory reception of Transmitted Concept
V
Translation of Concept into Observation
V
Observation of concept
The process depicted above shows how observations are
communicated. First, one has the idea to transmit an
observation. In order to transmit ones observation,
conceptualize it into words which can be spoken or
written. Transmit these words by speaking them or writing
them down.
The message is then perceived by the intended receivers.
They observe, or hear what they think one has said, or
they see what they think one has written. What is
observed might not always be the same as what they
actually perceived because their imagination and
discrimination may interfere with their perception. They
translate the concepts of what they thought they heard or
saw into meaning using their own translation library. Now
they have an idea of what one was trying to communicate.
What is understood is not always what one is trying to
make known. There are several obstacles to clear
communication. If one is unable to perceive the message
being communicated through ones senses, or if it is
otherwise filtered out, then the communication will not
be accurate. If one observes meaningful communication as
noise, then one is discriminating the message and
observing only part of it. If one associates pleasure or
pain to a message as it is being communicated, then ones
observations of the message becomes emotionally biased.
This error is especially important if pleasure or pain
were not intended to be communicated in the first place.
Most error, however, lies in faulty translation of the
concepts contained in the message. Words have different
meanings (observations) to different people. This is the
error of equivocation.
All art, literature, and most other forms of
communication are crude attempts to communicate
observations and sensory receptions. It is not what is
written, but what is meant that is the communication. It
is not what is read, but what is understood. An increase
in the quality of communication then, would be an
increase in transference of original sensory reception
and observation and a decrease in the transference and
translation of concepts of those original sensory
receptions and observations. When attempting to
communicate enlightenment, concepts are little more than
arrows pointing to the idea that one need to observe all
things in a new way; a new way of observing life and the
world which brings great joy. One of the secrets of
enlightenment is learning how to communicate with
oneself.
It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand
words, and today, as never before, pictures are being
increasingly used to transmit communication for this very
reason. Most people prefer watching a movie based on a
book rather than reading the book itself. As technology
allows, people will increase the use of pictures and
video clips, in their communication. Already, in internet
"chat" areas, the exchange of photos rather
than text alone is increasing rapidly. Video phones and
the like are already a reality and will eventually become
the norm.
