ESP.LITERATURE

The concept of “doing good in secret” is a cornerstone of folk wisdom and many spiritual traditions, a notion that emphasizes humility, pure motives, and the belief that an exemplary character needs no public recognition. This principle suggests that actions done for praise, deeds rewarded by the applause of others, detract from a strong character; whereas secret acts are rewarded by personal and spiritual growth. A notable Biblical reference comes from Matthew 1 – 4 from which derives the idiomatic expression ‘don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is up to.’

Self-effacement, a term that emerged in European circles in the 1850s, refers to the act of keeping oneself in the background due to humility. The term derived from “self” and the French-rooted “effacement”. It literally means to “remove the face” or wipe oneself out, rooted in the Old French esfacier (12c.) and Latin ex- (out) + facies (face).

Anecdotal history from China provides an ancient tale on the same theme. Chan (Zen) patriarch Bodhidarma arrived in China in the early 6th century. He was immediately invited to visit Emperor Wu, founder of the Liang Dynasty (502-549 CE). The emperor, it seems, was a devout Buddhist who insisted on a meeting with the Indian holy man. But the man who came before him was a young, travel worn monk, tall and beaded with glaring eyes.

Somewhat put off, the emperor said, May I ask you a question?

Whatever you like, came Bodhidarma’s reply.

The emperor prefaced his question with a long list of the meritorious deeds he had done, temples built, stupas erected, universities established, he had banned the sacrifice of animals and had spoken out against executions. Coming at last to the end of his list, he said, With all these good deeds, how much merit have I earned?

Bodhidarma just shook his head. None whatsoever was his reply.

The emperor, taken aback, managed to control his temper. He tried another tack. So then, he said, what is the essence of Buddhism?

Vast emptiness, came the reply.

The emperor, angry now and dismayed, insisted that he be told just who, then, was this man standing before him.

The monk laughed. No one at all, he replied.

With that the emperor ordered him banished from the empire which mattered not a bit to Bodhidarma who promptly disappeared into the mountains.

The anecdote provides, in a nutshell, the essence of self-effacement.

The term’s antonym is self-aggrandizement which many Americans seem to consider a virtue, as well as an absolute necessity in a capitalistic economic system. How else might one make a dollar? Climb the ladder of success? Get your moniker splashed across the World Wide Web? Become an Influencer?

Asians, specifically, east Asians prefer humility, and consider blowing one’s own horn something of a fault. The essence of Taoism, that ancient Chinese philosophy that became a way of life, is that those who know do not speak, and those who speak do not know (Chapter 56 of the Tao Te Ching).

Intoku (陰徳), a Japanese term that is usually translated as  “good done in secret,” describes the act of performing kind deeds or service without seeking praise or recognition. It is a philosophical approach to life focusing on moral virtue, where the reward is the act itself, frequently mentioned specifically in Zen Buddhism and generally permeating all of Japanese culture.

Self-effacement presents some logistical problems for artists whatever their métier. The hermetic life does not lend itself to recognition by one’s peers let alone a general public. Most artists need to sell their work, but without a good deal of visibility making a living is difficult. Many work in other fields and cannot devote full time efforts to their art. The internet has provided an avenue leading to sales and recognition for many.

Unfortunately, the internet requires a large dose of self-publicity in order to generate enough interest and income to be successful. A singer-songwriter has to perform. A painter has to exhibit. A writer has to publish. Social media must be exploited.

When does blowing one’s own horn become self-aggrandizement? When does enough become too much? When the author’s name on a book cover is larger than a book’s title what does it say about the contents of the book?

The main concern for any artist, the dilemma they all face, is the erosion of the integrity of their work by self-aggrandisement. Ernest Hemingway becomes ‘Papa’ and his novels become caricatures of what they once were; but he continues to sell books. Samuel Beckett curses his fame, passing up the Nobel presentation, and his work remains largely unread.

Somewhere in the middle (the way to solve a problem is always through, as Robert Frost has written) is the answer to the dilemma. Asians, like Frost, usually counsel the middle path. They also suggest that less is more, that the best policy is to exercise a modicum of circumspection.