Wisdom for a Modern Age

How a community and its people at present are the products of the past. It is perhaps a blessing for the people of Bhutan to have His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck as a king of unparalled wisdom, benevolence and vision. Right from his coronation address till last abdication, His Majesty devoted everything to serve the nation, reaching out the nook and corner of the kingdom.  Fourth Druk Gyalpo believed that the ultimate goal of the nation was the contentment of the people and that we should not compromise our environment, culture and tradition for the sake of socio-economic development. For that Gross National Happiness (GNH) was envisioned as a development philosophy right after his enthronement. His Majesty realized and declared that development paradigm-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) did not consider the ultimate goal of the every human being and concluded that GDP is neither an equitable nor a meaningful measurement for the human happiness. Thus, the philosophy of Gross National Happiness was born.

Photo credit: Google.

As Bhutan break the cocoon of isolation and observed modernization in last few decades, Gross National Happiness remains largely an intuitive insight and guiding light. It reminds government and people that material progress was not only contributor to the wellbeing. Farsighted philosophy had not been there, like in many countries, Bhutan would have failed to distinguish between activities that increase a nation’s wealth and those that deplete its natural resources. If the forest of Bhutan were logged for profit and minerals are extracted, GDP would have increased but if the GNH principle were not applied and environmental consideration are not taken  into account, the country today would have affected with several massive challenges like degradation  of tropical rainforest,landslide,flood and ,many other havoc. Amidst in the time of challenges and opportunity, temptations and restraints, His Majesty has a clear and profound environmental vision that of which we enjoy today and commit to pass on to coming generations.

Of all the insurmountable tasks and insuperable achievements of His Majesty is one of the pillars of Gross National Happiness to conserve environment for all times to come. Even as the world witness the alarming environmental hazards, deforestation and desertification. Bhutan is fortunate to have vast proportions of its natural forest intact. Under farsighted leadership, series of law and policies that have a positive impact on conservation and environment sustainability are established. The most notable is the Bhutan’s commitment to maintain sixty percent of country’s total lands under forest cover for all times.

His Majesty’s great ideas of nature conservation against rapid economic development have sown the seeds of future wellbeing and have shaped the vision of Bhutan’s environment stewardship. His Majesty innovative environmental conservation laws and policies and our environment status have gained global recognition. Today the world acknowledges Bhutan as a Last Shangri-Lha of the world.

Written by Yeshi Dorji

Bachelor of science in Environment and Climate Studies (1^st Year, 1^stBatch)

Be Better, not Bitter

Life is a continous mechanism of change.There are moments when life seems to work out so smoothly and flawlessly.Moments when we feel contented,comfortable and complete.Then, moments come out of no where at us and point dirty fingers and say your things went out of  plan.Finally we tend to assume that the worst is yet to come.That is the time where we find very core of pain,sadness and fragmentation.We then leap into erroneous conclusions and decisions.Emotions override us, that instead of facing circumtances, we drown ourselves with resentment and frustrations.In this desperate phase I found it important for us to know the following.
Be blind to the causes of heartbroken and  sight locked into that person being cause and quit blame game.Instead remain grateful to him/her despite the feeling of emptiness.View forward inspite of heartbreak.The pain may be hard to erase completely but you have ability to believe that you can move on.
We shed tear out of true and the deepest level of feelings.It is because you cared,you loved and you are hurt finally.But tears that rolled out are never wasted.This are testimony that you are feeling what you are able to feel.
The pinch and crack will remain in our core feeling of heart.But donot let it turn into bitter scar.Instead the gap and briuse should nurse properly and become the very spot where hopes ignite out of personal darkness and shine with something better and more deserving.
Know that everything will not go as expected and planned.Stop to build castle in air and focus on what is possible and compatible.End of relation with him or her doesnot mean a mistake nor end of everything.
Finally it is all paradox of life.Life is bittersweet.Pain and heartache can mould our way in making ourself better person.
(P.S:This is my timeless exploration and not intented to relate any one else)

Photo credit:Tshering Chezom.

Life in midst of everything!