Presentation of Bhutan Centre for Gross National Happiness Source of inspiration In 1972, His Majesty the fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck pronounced this far-­sighted sentence: ³*URVV1DWLRQDO+DSSLQHVVLVPRUHLPSRUWDQWWKDQ*URVV1DWLRQDO3URGXFW´. In just 10 words, His Majesty planted a seed that has grown into a great tree and its fruits are nourishing not only the people of Bhutan, but also people and nations, the whole world over. His Majesty is thus the Spiritual Father of Gross National Happiness (GNH). For four decades the King ruOHGWKHFRXQWU\ZLWKWKHSHRSOH¶s happiness in mind. In 2006, the King passed the throne to his son, His Majesty the fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and declared that Bhutan was soon to become a democracy. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election. Bhutan is now ruled by a democratically elected government headed by Prime Minister of Bhutan Honourable Jigmi Y. Thinley. Vision and mandate The GNH Centre was initiated by Prime Minister of Bhutan Honourable Jigmi Y. Thinley. The GNH Centre has been registered as a civil society organization with its own board of governors on the 18th of October 2012. A quote from the Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigmi Y Thinley offers a pertinent synthesis of the mandate of the GNH Centre: ³:KDWZH ZDQWWRVHHLVQRWKLQJOHVVWKDQWUDQVIRUPDWLYH ² graduates who are genuine human beings, realizing their full and true potential, caring for others including other species, ecologically literate, contemplative as well as analytical in their understanding of the world, free of greed and without excessive desires;; knowing, understanding, and appreciating completely that they are not separate from the natural world and from others;; ² in sum manifesting their humanity fully.... In the end, a GNH-­educated graduate will have no doubt that his or her happiness derives only from contributing to WKHKDSSLQHVVRIRWKHUV´ Purpose The GNH Centre will PDQLIHVW%KXWDQ¶VXQLTXHEDODQFHGGHYHORSPHQWSKLORVRShy of Gross National Happiness in living practice. At the Centre, Bhutan will teach Bhutanese and foreigners how to integrate GNH values and practices into their daily work and lives and how to serve their families, neighbours, companies and country with genuine purpose, compassion, joy, and effectiveness. The GNH Centre should be a place to reflect on the meaning and purpose of life and discover the deeper answers to these questions. In order to do that, participants need to acquire skills in contemplation, meditation, and also social skills: how to listen and creating genuine relationships with one another. Mindfulness is a common thread that runs through activities. 1 Why does Gross National Happiness matter? As we look at the human and environmental costs of unlimited growth as measured by gross domestic product, many of the world's leading statesmen, economists, and Nobel Laureates have directed their attention towards Bhutan. The principles of GNH matter not only to Bhutan but to a world focused on unbridled economic growth, fighting climate change, pollution, resource degradation, species and cultural extinctions, stress-­related diseases, and entrenched poverty and insecurity. Parts of the world are no happier despite ever higher levels of material consumption. GNH directly addresses such global, national and mental challenges by pointing to the non-­material URRWVRIZHOOEHLQJ'UDZLQJRQWKHSURIRXQGZLVGRPRI%KXWDQ¶VDQFLent spiritual traditions, and respecting nature, GNH shows that human needs can be satisfied and happiness enhanced at modest level of production and consumption, celebrating sufficiency, contentment and community. Why make the GNH Centre now? There is a growing awareness that ever higher levels of material consumption enabled by rampant resource extraction have not produced expected gains in happiness. In an international context, the GNH Centre shall motivate people to reflect on their own and other SHRSOH¶s happiness. The GNH Centre will inspire the world to find a balance between materialistic and non-­materialistic aspects of life, and other factors that are vital to human happiness. The GNH Centre will provide great benefit to a world seeking a viable alternative to the dominant materialist, consumerist model of development. Bhutan stands at a crossroad, with its own citizens not immune to destructive global trends. Until recently, Bhutan remained relatively isolated from the world, with a population with an intuitive understanding that material progress constitutes only a very limited, narrow component of wellbeing. After the introduction of democracy, the government of Bhutan has met the wish for satellite TV and the younger generation has quickly been affected by how the media may reflect happiness and success as material abundance and individual fame. Massive rural-­urban migration threatens the viability of villages and agriculture, while the capital, Thimphu, is now a witness to growing pollution, inequality, youth alienation, and substance abuse. The government of Bhutan wishes as a counter balance to LQFUHDVHWKHSRSXODWLRQ¶s understanding of GNH. The GNH Centre will help people find a balance between material and spiritual values, and between traditional and modern life styles. The GNH Centre will not only be of immense value to the world, at this time in history, but also for generations to come. The world is looking for a viable alternative to the dominant consumerist model of development. 2 GNH Centre programs and activities The programs and activities at the GNH Centre will attract and encourage Bhutanese and foreigners from all walks of life: educators, researchers, students, farmers, statesmen, leaders, labourers, civil servants, monks, business people, the military, parliamentarians, young, and old. Catering to about 300 participants, the GNH Centre will offer transformative learning programs with individualised content -­ all deeply embedded in GNH principles. It will be a place where people learn and H[SHULHQFHWKDWRQHFDQOLYHRQH¶VOLIHIXOO\\HWLQDVLmple way, with little material needs, generating contentment out of mindfulness and manifesting a flourishing life in contrast with the shallowness of consumerism. Objectives of GNH programs and activities at the GNH Centre: x
Enabling participants to engage in a transformative learning process through dialogue, introspection and self-­reflection, leading to a deepening of their understanding of GNH principles and values. x
Enabling participants to have a living experience of GNH by living in, and co-­creating a conducive environment fully aligned with GNH principles and values. x
Enabling participants to implement GNH inspired projects in their families, communities, villages, businesses, organizations, societies and/or countries. Program Offerings: x
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practices for both Bhutanese and international guests. Mid-­length cRXUVHVIURPGD\VWRGD\V³$GHHSGLYHLQWKH*1+([SHULHQFH´HQDEOLQJDQ
inspiring and transformative experience for both Bhutanese and international guests. Long courses, one month on-­site or several 2 to 3 week modules on-­site with field practice in between for both Bhutanese and international guests. Youth programs. Leadership programs. Location The Government of Bhutan has given 46 acres in the spiritual heartland of Bhutan to build the GNH Centre. The &HQWUHZLOOEHVLWXDWHGDWDQDOWLWXGHRIPHWUHVLQ%XPWKDQJ¶VVDFUHG&KKRHNKRU
Valley in central Bhutan. The site is located at the southern entrance of the 4,914 square kilometres Wangchuck Centennial Park, which is the largest national park in Bhutan. Detailed architectural design and construction plans will begin January 2013 and construction begins in spring 2013. The GNH Centre should be fully operational by summer 2014. While the GNH Centre in Bumthang is still under construction, programs and activities will be held at hotels in and around the capital of Bhutan Thimphu. Funding The total budget for realizing the complete GNH Centre is USD 8.570,288 over a period of 3 years: USD 1.068,627 for the operational part and USD 7.501,661 for the construction part. Per November 2012 USD 0.523 mio. was donated. The GNH Centre will be developed by donor contributions and it will progress incrementally at the speed allowed by donations. 3 Please contact us for more information Centre Director, Dr. Saamdu Chetri: [email protected] Centre Program Coordinator, Dr. Tho Ha-­Vinh: [email protected] Centre Fundraiser, MA Pol.Sci., Lene Skrumsager Møller: [email protected] Please visit us online Web: www.GNHcentrebhutan.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/GNHCentre Twitter: @GNHCentreBhutan Blog: http://havinhtho.blogspot.com Further information about Bhutan, GNH and the GNH Centre is available online x
The King of Bhutan talks about Gross National Happiness: www.GNHcentrebhutan.org/HisRoyalHighness x
Prime Minister of Bhutan talks about GNH and the GNH Centre: www.GNHcentrebhutan.org/PrimeMinister x
Video presentation of Bhutan by the Government of Bhutan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2-­0Q-­dh0ZE&feature=player_embedded x
Input for Draft Outcome Document for Rio+20 by Government of Bhutan: http://www.isee2012.org/bhutan_rio20_pdf_from_un_website.pdf. x
High-­Level Meeting on "Happiness and Well Being", UN in N.Y., 2 April 2012: www.2apr.gov.bt x
7KH5R\DO*RYHUQPHQWRI%KXWDQ¶V*URVV1DWLRQDO+DSSLQHVV&ommission: www.gnhc.gov.bt x
The Centre for Bhutan Studies: www.bhutanstudies.org.bt x
Research on Gross National Happiness: www.grossnationalhappiness.com 4