...the then king of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuc declared his aim of not just increasing the gross domestic product of his country, but also the "gross national happiness". That year, 1972, had the same numbers as the year 1729 when Bhutan was given its original governance code that declared: "if the government cannot create happiness for its people, there is no purpose for the government to exist." [emphasis added]Read it at Asia Times Online
Bhutan's happiness index goes global
By Raja Murthy
This is turning into a big deal as a counter to neoliberalism. It's going to be a rising trend as the emerging nations step onto the stage and confront the neoliberal powers that be of the West. It is also a rising trend in the progressive element of Western societies.
2 comments:
From the article:
" In 1972, Bhutan started its gross national happiness, based on four cornerstone parameters: 1) promoting sustainable development; 2) preserving and promoting cultural values; 3) environmental conservation; and 4) fair distribution and efficient use of resources. "
So they have those 4 parameters, ok....
Then the article continues:
" The Buddha explained the four basic types of happiness for a householder living in the mundane world [6]:
1. Anaya sukha: The happiness of being free from the misery of being in debt.
2. Atthi sukha: The happiness of possessing debt-free wealth and property.
3. Bhoga sukha: This wealth enables one to enjoy the happiness of various comforts in life - one sees pleasing sights, hears melodious music, smells sweet fragrances, tastes delicious foods, enjoy pleasant physical contact. All these comforts give happiness.
4. Anavajjasukha: But all this wealth and comforts is of no use, without the happiness experienced by living a wholesome lifestyle - without harming oneself or another being: to abstain from killing, stealing, adultery, abstaining from deception, backbiting and using harsh words that hurt others."
So how do we go from the latter 4 happiness things from Buddha to the former 4 policy goals?
Does Sachs know what he is doing? FYI Sachs is a big believer in "taxpayer on the hook!".
Resp,
"So how do we go from the latter 4 happiness things from Buddha to the former 4 policy goals?"
Institutional and cultural change is required to get the West back on track. The incentive structure are perverse and priorities are reversed.
True happiness comes from within. Traveling the world, the happiest people I have encountered are semi-tribal people that have nothing by our standards, and some of the unhappiest people I have known are the wealthiest.
As all great teachers have observed, East and West, happiness is spiritual. It has virtually nothing essential to do with materiality. A full life is one in which all needs are met, spiritual and material.
Material well-being can be enjoyed along with happiness, but if one pursues material well-being along, one will never find material happiness due to achieving great fame, fortune and power. One will experience bodily pleasure, but never spiritual happiness.
Aristotle: Happiness [eudiamonia] is the by-product of excellence [arete]. Nichomacean Ethics, Bk 1
"For what shall it profit a man, if he may gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [psyche]?" Matt 8:36, Young's Literal Translation Jesus is not speaking about the afterlife here, either.
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