"Ilmu Padi" is an old saying in Indonesia and perhaps all over Southeast Asia that compares one's maturity and self attainment with the growth of the rice paddy plant. In Indonesian, it says "semakin berisi, semakin merunduk" meaning as the rice paddy mature, and the grains and the spikelets get heavier, the panicles seem to nod or bow down. This is a metaphor for our own personal growth: as we mature, get better educated, or become more well-off, we should be more humble about our achievements and possessions.
In the recent years, I've noticed that this old metaphor has become somewhat of a paradox in the always-connected, modern 21st century lifestyle where our lives is not just about the actual physical things we do or consume, but also about our online presence with the various social networks through which we share our lives. Sharing is one thing, I've noticed (and experienced) that social media has encouraged outright bragging--on our activities, our travels, our consumption, and our possessions. This is very prominent in the Asian cultures where we like to brag about our experiences and our ability to purchase/consume/go to/belong to whatever.
Don't get me wrong, I am guilty of this as well. Perhaps, I am more guilty that many of you. It's just so much easier to brag than to be humble. Sometimes, I'm guilty of trying to paradoxically combine the two; I think UrbanDictionary calls this "humble-bragging," which in and of itself is an oxymoron. If you look at my facebook, twitter, instagram, path, etc.. I've posted, checked in, and shared a lot of travel experiences, food items, and even mp3 playlist that are strategically shared to 'build' a certain persona about me. Is it wrong? I'm not sure. It is most certainly not humble in the context of Ilmu Padi.
So what are we to do? Social media have definitely made it easier for us to share and to brag about ourselves. It is so easy to succumb to the pressure. All your friends are doing it, why aren't you. Are we departing from our age-old East Asian culture? I don't have the answers.
