Home Plan - [GR2-L7-U1-LC1-4 The Kingdom of Happiness]

The document explores Bhutan’s unique approach to measuring and promoting happiness, focusing on the Four Pillars of Happiness: government, economy, society, and culture. It introduces the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and discusses how Bhutan conducts happiness surveys to enhance citizens’ well-being. The text also delves into Bhutan’s shift towards formal surveys to measure happiness, the country’s influence on developing happiness indexes globally, and the significance of personal happiness over material wealth. Furthermore, it touches on the United Nations’ World Happiness Report, the International Day of Happiness, Bhutan’s approach to balance and happiness, and the challenges faced by certain groups like the Lhotshampas in relation to cultural and religious conformity in Bhutan.

Contents

• Pages 1—23: Happiness in Bhutan
• Pages 24—41: Bhutan’s Happiness Evaluation.
• Pages 42—50: World Happiness Report

This section of the document introduces the topic of happiness and the Kingdom of Bhutan’s approach to measuring and promoting happiness. It discusses the importance of summarizing and identifying cause-and-effect relationships in the text. The document provides learning objectives, introduces key terms, and suggests activities for students to engage with the material, such as looking at pictures and defining words. It mentions the Four Pillars of Happiness in Bhutan – government, economy, society, and culture. The text also highlights the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) introduced by King Wangchuck, emphasizing the importance of happiness over material wealth. The government of Bhutan conducts happiness surveys to improve the well-being of its citizens. Additionally, it mentions the cultural background of Bhutan, including the significance of traditions and the beliefs of Buddhists in the country.

The section of the document discusses Bhutan’s Four Pillars of Happiness, which are key factors used by the government to measure people’s happiness. These pillars include government rule, social and work matters, culture and traditions, and nature and the environment. The document mentions that initially, these pillars were only guides for happiness without a formal survey. However, as Bhutan began to modernize, the government conducted surveys to measure happiness using the Gross National Happiness Index based on factors such as good governance, wise handling of money, support for the Bhutanese way of life, and care for the natural world. The government improved health care and daily life based on survey results. Additionally, it discusses how Bhutan’s approach to measuring happiness has inspired other countries to develop their own happiness indexes.

The document discusses the United Nations’ World Happiness Report in 2012, which ranks countries based on their happiness scores. It mentions March 20 being designated as the International Day of Happiness by the United Nations. The text alludes to Bhutan’s emphasis on personal happiness over money and its unique perspective on balance and happiness. Additionally, it highlights the situation of the Lhotshampa group in Bhutan, who were not included in the happiness survey and faced challenges related to cultural and religious conformity in Bhutan.