[Buddha-l] Bhutan & happiness

[Michael LaTorra]

Christopher Fynn <cfynn at gmx.net> used Bhutan as an example of what Tibet might 
have become if the Chinese had not invaded. It probably goes without saying 
that the Bhutanese are better off, if for no other reason than the absence of a 
foreign ruling elite. 

However, I'm more interested in something else going on in Bhutan. The  
Bhutanese government is employing a new measurement to replace (or supplement) 
the ubiquitous Gross National Product that every other nation uses: Gross 
National Happiness. See: http://tinyurl.com/2t5t74 

This idea is based on the findings of "positive psychology" (see books such 
as "Stumbing on Happiness" by Gilbert or "The Happiness Hypothesis" by Haidt 
or "Happiness" by Layard).

The Gross International Happiness Project
http://www.grossinternationalhappiness.org/

The Gross International Happiness Project (‘GIH’) is based on the insight that 
conventional development concepts such as GNP and Per Capita Income do not 
properly reflect the general well being of the inhabitants of a nation. In 
order to develop real progress and sustainability and to effectively combat 
trends which compromise the planet’s natural and human ecosystems, GIH aims to 
develop more appropriate and inclusive indicators which truly measure the 
quality of life within nations and organizations. GIH is inspired by the 
concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) proposed by the King of Bhutan, which 
puts the well being of individuals on top of the national development agenda. 
Rooted in Buddhist philosophy and values, GIH presents a radically different 
development paradigm, but one that holds a promise for achieving real 
sustainability. GIH aims to connect the international efforts which are taking 
place in the field of developing alternative development indicators, human 
economics and happiness psychology, so that individual efforts can benefit from 
each other and that collectively these efforts more strongly impact 
international development agenda’s. 

The GIH Project consists of a series of conferences, seminars, research and 
publications around the world. The first meeting will be held in Bhutan 
(February 2004), followed by a conference in Mongolia (July 2004) and the 
Netherlands (2005). 


Regards,

Michael LaTorra

mlatorra at nmsu.edu

Department of English
New Mexico State University
PO Box 30001 MSC 3E
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001