global village, village virtues

When does self-promotion turn into self-indulgence?

Keith Wong

A YEAR ago, I took a community service trip with some students to teach English to teenagers at a small village school in southern China. One assumes that such trips are a form of "charity". As it turned out, we learnt more from the students than they did from us.

.

Although we arrived in June, it was atypically cold, rainy and misty for a few days, and the intermittent showers meant that getting caught in the rain was a common occurrence.

.

One day, I was making my way to the hostel from school, without an umbrella. As luck would have it, it began to rain. I quickened my pace. Then a waif-like figure seemingly materialised from the rain and mist.

.

A young girl with an umbrella came towards me in the opposite direction, making her way to school.

.

Holding out her umbrella, she asked if I needed it. Her expression was not grandiose or playful, but matter-of-fact. I stopped, shocked.

.

My urban sensibility had registered something extraordinary. There was a warmth and richness about the experience. I did not accept her offer, but the rain did not bother me anymore.

.

This was probably a common act of kindness on her part.

.

Indeed, there was a culture of openness and generosity among the students in the school. Students often offered us snacks bought with their own money.

.

They were also generous in non-material terms, offering hugs and compliments readily to all. Many walked arm-in-arm around the school in displays of platonic friendship.

.

The lady who owned the hostel where we stayed possibly undercharged us for the 10 days we were there.

.

All this came as a culture shock to the Singaporean students, who were deeply touched by their Chinese counterparts. They reciprocated by working even harder to teach them well.

.

There were more than a few tearful goodbyes when the time came to part. One question many of the students in my group had in mind: Why can't school be like that in Singapore?

.

The ability to engage in acts of generosity and kindness seems independent of social and financial circumstances.

.

These Chinese children were from the countryside, and some did not even have shoes to wear.

.

Yet, their austere conditions, away from state-of-the-art IT equipment, PSPs and other acronyms of privilege, necessitated a close-knit community and a selfless concern for others — deep feelings of altruism.

.

Lest this seems rose-tinted, I hasten to add that not all the students or villagers possessed the same measure of open-heartedness, especially when faced with adult "realities".

.

I wonder if, in urban Singapore, a similar kindness would have been proffered. One remembers that incident three years ago when an injured man lay alone on the ground at a prestigious golf course for 20 minutes before help came.

.

Vandalism of public property in schools and on buses is ubiquitous and yet difficult to regulate.

.

Generating a concern for others is the only workable solution here.

.

But there have also been examples of great kindness. There has been a swift response from community organisations and people desiring to help those affected by the recent Bukit Merah blast.

.

Mr Chan Fook Seng, who passed away in the blast, was himself an active volunteer at the Sarah Senior Citizens Activity Centre.

.

His efforts were reported only after his death, yet this lack of publicity did not deter him from going out of his way to give.

.

There are many such unsung heroes, such angels in our midst, and one wonders where such altruism originates from. It certainly expands the spirit to ponder on this.

.

Singaporean students and working adults spend a good deal of their lives building their portfolios. These days, image is everything.

.

In schools, students are encouraged to discover their assets and market them, chalking up awards and qualifications.

.

All this is good and necessary in the wealthy, globalised world. We are no strangers to self-promotion. But when do we cross the line into self-indulgence? Do we recognise our strengths and use them for the benefit of others? Or are accolades all that we are looking for?

.

Perhaps, every work review or academic profile should include a component stating how each individual has been of service to the "whole", rather than dwelling on achievement.

.

The selflessness of altruism should not be confused with self-sacrificial or subservient behaviour. Rather, it is a feeling of losing oneself in an act of virtue.

.

The Chinese students were by and large, a happy lot. According to the Buddhist teacher, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the sage Shantideva said: "All the happiness in the world arises from wishing others to be happy."

.

As a small fishing village more than 200 years ago, Singapore had its advantages. Now as we partake of the proverbial "global village", perhaps "village virtues" would be well remembered.

.

The writer was an educator for three and a half years. He is now between jobs.

==========

This article writes about the importance of village virtues in a global village like Singapore. The author gives an example of selfless altruism in a place like China, where they make up for their lack in material wealth in simple kindnesses, like offering an umbrella to a stranger whenever he needed it—personally experienced by the author. This shows “that the ability to engage in acts of generosity and kindness seems independent of social and financial circumstances”. This is especially true for rural people who are mostly poor both in status and monetarily; kindness begotten from them is from the heart, unlike in some societies. These people in China show kindness without a hint of a motive in doing a good deed. In Singapore, everything is material—including the kindness we receive from people. Away from modern society and technological advances, and living in a close-knit community has fostered a selfless concern for others.

I feel that as part of a world that is progressing at a lightning pace, we should emulate the southern China community as depicted by the author. In showing concern for others, we are building our moral character, which is extremely important in present contexts. The fast-paced world has forced us all to be objective and focused on the task at hand; to do things that benefit us most and discard any that does not. Moral character is important in such a world, where Victorian values are being distorted everyday; bullying is normal and trendy, and people who ask for change after giving to charity are common. If we forget these values, what will happen to the world?

In showing care and concern, we should always be selfless, and not have any hidden motive behind doing it. If we are just fulfilling a hidden agenda, deep down we will not feel any warmth or sense of fulfillment after helping someone. Students in Singapore help old folks simply because of their requirement to complete CIP hours. Nowadays, instead of attempting to help others, children nag and beg their parents to get them the latest devices for entertainment like the iPhone and PSPs etc. Parents should show an example for their children, and this is where the change should begin. How much will children learn, from parents who are ‘kiasu’ and selfish?

In Singapore, everything is done for oneself. People are afraid of caring too much lest they get implicated and blamed, or that they will disrupt their schedule by the amount of time it takes to help a person. However, there are some among us who do good deeds without need for recognition. They help without need of return, and instead, instill a sense of kindness begetting kindness that the people they help will reciprocate towards other people. As long as one of us is willing to go all the way, there will be an exponential growth in people doing good deeds, and thus helping Singapore to grow in moral character as well to become truly an all-rounded global village.

(503 Words)