The people of this almost magical land hidden in the mountains live their lives following a philosophy of collective happiness—something that seems fantastical in the current era of individualism. Yet it all happens today, filling my heart with the warm feeling of hope that not everything is lost.
Happiness Resides in Bhutan
The level of happiness (i.e., GDH or "gross domestic happiness") in Bhutan is continuously increasing, thanks to the belief that happiness means progress—at least for the residents and government of this far-from-forgotten place. And why wouldn’t it mean that, when some of us spend our entire lives searching for it?
Life in Bhutan, an Example of Serenity
It seems that the secret to happiness lies in simplicity. In the simplicity with which we view life, in the simplicity with which we choose to live it. From all the reports, documentaries, and photographs featuring the Bhutanese community, one common element is clear: the serenity on everyone's face.
It is amazing to see so much peace with oneself everywhere you turn. I wouldn’t know how that "feels," but my heart longs for a place where it can beat freely, among people who welcome it with love and joy.
Essentially, I believe a large part of what allows these people to go through each day in complete harmony with themselves and their surroundings is the absence of the fear of death. I read in an article that the citizens of Bhutan are at peace with the idea of death, thus freeing them from the fear that their existence could end at any moment. How much work of self-convincing must one do to achieve this state?
And since spirituality plays an important role in the lives of Bhutan’s inhabitants, the Buddhist and Hindu values they follow promote peace, self-love, and love for others. Buddhism, in particular, encourages its followers to be grateful for what they have, not to complain, to consider themselves blessed, and to celebrate each day as a gift from life. A very different way of seeing things compared to many current societies.
Bhutan's Culture in the 21st Century
Considering that material things do not take precedence in individual development and, consequently, at the country level, the Bhutanese have adopted the concept of "gross national happiness" with open arms. It is clear to me that the happiness of these people is not directly proportional to the degree of economic development of the country they live in.
Perhaps you didn’t know this, but the last royal family of Bhutan withdrew from the opulence of the royal palace, leaving it available to tourists to promote the culture of the state they love. How many titleholders would do that? Although tourism in Bhutan does not follow traditional paths, they have managed to make this small country of just 200 km a place worth visiting, an ideal we all aspire to.
Belonging to a centuries-old culture has given them the opportunity to show the world all the beauty of their customs and local art, the serenity with which they do this being contagious. Although they are aware of all the issues that disturb our peace on a global level, the Bhutanese have chosen to take refuge in tradition, following their hearts in the ancient call of the blood that flows through their veins.
And what filled me with the deepest respect I can have for a country (after Japan) was the adoption of the concept of "mindfulness" from an early age. Children are taught that everything around them matters, that the environment they live in must be protected, and that their fellow human beings deserve to be treated with kindness and an open heart.
Perhaps this is another key element to achieving happiness: detaching from the daily grayness by surrounding ourselves with beauty, with what our instincts tell us is ours, while learning to treat each other with the care and respect we deserve. And let's not forget about love!
First Steps in a Country with a High Happiness Index
Watching this community online and on television, I get the impression that wherever I go in Bhutan, I would be greeted with love. You know how, when you enter a house where harmony is at its peak, you feel surrounded by that "force field" created from bright feelings? That’s how I think you feel when you cross the border into the fascinating country of happiness. And I really wish I could experience it firsthand!
I even asked a few of my reader friends how they can tell that the inhabitants of a country are predominantly happy, what "shows" this, and the answers are very similar.
"Hmmm… happy people! Serene faces, not grumpy ones. Comfortable clothes, not pompous ones. I feel that often, through clothes, we try to mask what we carry in our souls. When a person is happy, there is a naturalness that is hard to explain in words. Happy hearts recognize each other." — Jessica N.
"The way they dress, in light, pastel, cheerful colors, regardless of age. The way they wait in line somewhere. The way they walk alone, smiling at those they meet along the way. Their active participation in community life. The light in their eyes when they see a leaf, a flower, a beautiful tree. A certain calmness, a certain serenity in their gaze and aura that I can't describe. I don't think happiness can be described, but you feel it when it's there." — Laura P.
"If the people I meet make me feel good, they are probably happy." — Emily T.
"I look at people's eyes and clothes. If they are dressed in colorful clothes, it means they are happy. The eyes don't lie! Eyes laugh or cry. Then I look at children: how many children are born, how many are abandoned. Then at couples, if they hold hands after years and years of being together. I watch couples on vacation! You can see which ones are happy and which ones aren't, when they sit and talk. When people are unhappy, they only talk about taking care of the child, bills, loans, etc." — Sarah M.
Bhutan, I dream of you as if...
Sometimes I feel like we are losing the essence of life, burying it somewhere under layers and layers of dissatisfaction, fears, and attempts to achieve more and more in all aspects. This wouldn’t be so wrong if that "more" actually meant SOMETHING to us, if it fulfilled us at least halfway. But I find that the things we constantly chase, in a mad rush where we lose bits and pieces of ourselves, are nowhere near as satisfying.
This happens to me more and more often, especially when I learn that there is another "way" somewhere out there in this big world. And I wonder... does it have to do with getting older? With setting inappropriate goals? Or do I simply need more, to have more humanity around me, more smiles? Maybe more understanding and empathy. More song, more sky, more love.
Yes, that’s it. Love, peace, and serene eyes. One day I will find them in the green of Bhutan; my heart knows this. Until then, I travel there with my mind, and my soul yearns for a way of life where people come first, a life where being YOU is enough.
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