Buddhism as a Guiding Principle for Gross National Happiness in Bhutan

Abstract

Buddhism which was introduced in Bhutan in Seventh century has come a long way in Bhutan. Bhutan has gone through many phases in its history right from theocracy to the establishment of the constitutional monarchy in the year 2008.Now Bhutan has joined the growing number of democracies in the world. Bhutan has recently completed its third National Assembly Election on October 18, 2018. Countries all over the world focus upon GDP especially in order to measure the economic well-being of the people. In such forms of measurement and indexes, based only on monetary terms does not consider spiritual and emotional needs and the psychological well-being of the people. Bhutan is motivated by the Buddhist belief to achieve genuine happiness and has thus become till now, the only country in the world to officially follow the state of happiness. Today also, Bhutan's development policies and social and political institutions reflect Buddhist concerns for equality and compassion, particularly the sense of responsibility for maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering for all members of society. The government views happiness as a policy objective that can be achieved only by enhancing people's well-being. Gross National Happiness (GNH), measures the quality of a country in a more holistic way than the Gross National Product. It believes that the development of human society will take place when material and spiritual development occur side by side.