Gross National Happiness
In 1972, the 4th king of Bhutan launched the concept of Gross National Happiness, or GNH. It is meant to support the purely economical measure of GNP by introducing a way to indicate happinness in addition to pure economical wealth. Last year Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy, and GNH was added in the constitution.
Reading the coronation address of His Majesty King Khesar, The 5th Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, one cannot help but to feel part of their universal happiness. "As the king of a Buddhist nation, my duty is not only to ensure your happiness today but to create the fertile ground from which you may gain the fruits of spiritual pursuit and attain good Karma."
He end with a prayer for Bhutan: "That the sun of peace and happiness may forever shine on our people. I also pray that while I am but King of a small Himalayan nation, I may in my time be able to do much to promote the greater wellbeing and happiness of all people in this world – of all sentient beings."
I would like to see GNH spread into the talks in UN, WTO, IMF, EU and so on. If we only measure our success with GDP/GNP, something important is lost. An OECD study from May listed the world's happiest nations. Nordic countries did very well (top 3 where Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands), but I still feel that we could improve even here by introducing the GNH.
Can you envision the evening news that start by stating, "The GNH is expected to rise 0,4% during next year in European level, while GDP is sinking by 2%". That would be something.
Image from http://www.galenfrysinger.com/bhutan.htm
Image from http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/people,suomi
Reading the coronation address of His Majesty King Khesar, The 5th Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, one cannot help but to feel part of their universal happiness. "As the king of a Buddhist nation, my duty is not only to ensure your happiness today but to create the fertile ground from which you may gain the fruits of spiritual pursuit and attain good Karma."
He end with a prayer for Bhutan: "That the sun of peace and happiness may forever shine on our people. I also pray that while I am but King of a small Himalayan nation, I may in my time be able to do much to promote the greater wellbeing and happiness of all people in this world – of all sentient beings."
I would like to see GNH spread into the talks in UN, WTO, IMF, EU and so on. If we only measure our success with GDP/GNP, something important is lost. An OECD study from May listed the world's happiest nations. Nordic countries did very well (top 3 where Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands), but I still feel that we could improve even here by introducing the GNH.
Can you envision the evening news that start by stating, "The GNH is expected to rise 0,4% during next year in European level, while GDP is sinking by 2%". That would be something.
Image from http://www.galenfrysinger.com/bhutan.htm
Image from http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/people,suomi
I received this link via Twitter http://www.responsibilityproject.com/blog/post/the-pursuit-of-happiness-are-we-responsible/
I happened to be thinking and writing very close to what Kathy is doing there, anaware.
The interesting addition that she brings, is Eric Weiner, the author of The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World.
Here's a book that sounds like the perfect travel companion http://www.ericweinerbooks.com/content/index.asp
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That is understandable that money can make people free. But how to act when one doesn't have money? The one way only is to get the home loans or just auto loan.
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