RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT
Local Pathways to Global Wellbeing
St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
June 20 to June 24, 2005
Creating Sustainable Happiness: focusing our energy on living spiritual values from the inside out
GNH may mislead us to assume that economic self-reliance, a pristine natural environment, good governance, and the promotion and preservation of culture are adequate for the production of happiness, rather than a reflection on the happiness generated from living spiritual values.
Happiness is an 'immaterial' quality of being. Happiness is not a macro concept that is easily quantifiable. It is a deeply personal, subjective experience which eludes concrete definitions. It is a value that is experienced and is spiritual, or non-material. Whether we endeavor to build sustainable happiness at the level of individuals, families, communities or nations, the process begins from the inside out, not from the outside in. Whether we give consideration to the personal subjective experience of happiness or shared cultural constructs and notions of happiness, the loci remains in personal experience.
GNP and other material centered indicators of progress have been shown to be limited in their scope and ability to measure well being. They have led to the creation of a society that focuses on materialism as the generator of happiness. If we consider that we might get more of what we measure, we must be cautious in how we develop new indicators of wellbeing such as Gross National Happiness (GNH).
GNH may mislead us to assume that economic self-reliance, a pristine natural environment, good governance, and the promotion and preservation of culture are adequate for the production of happiness, rather than a reflection on the happiness generated from living spiritual values. Although indicators of GNH offer holistic criteria and seek evidence of happiness in preset macro level indicators, we are in danger of losing the starting point and the methodology through which happiness can be created. By locating the starting point for development within the individual and repeatedly returning to it, we can ensure that happiness is genuine, retains meaning and is sustainable. Happiness is not recognizable through a set of instituted indicators, but rather, intuited through involvement in a process or programs designed for the exploration of happiness itself.
When happiness is framed as a personal, 'spiritual' experience it will then be freed from the notions of scarcity that so often burden our sense of economic and cultural life. Reassessing happiness as a non-material experience of a set of values through a process of reflection creates a new set meanings. When we experience happiness in this context we are then compelled to create systems that facilitate and perpetuate that experience. Happiness is generative. Happiness also contributes in the production of an economy and an environment that leads to sustainability and abundance, a culture that holds richness and meaning, and a method of governance that has merit.
Secular institutions within pluralist societies can consider participation in this type of exploration by understanding that the 'spiritual' need not be equated with religiosity. Happiness as a spiritual value may be universally compelling.
Happiness can be rediscovered through involvement in programs designed for the exploration of happiness itself, as an immaterial, spiritual value. The education work of the Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University has demonstrated with hundreds of thousands of people around the world that an accurate understanding of the self as a spiritual, innately happy being, creates sustainable happiness. These programs, such as the UN endorsed Living Values Education Program (with educators), Images and Voices of Hope (with media), Self Managing Leadership (with business leaders and public administrators) and Values in Health Care (with health care personnel), inspire personal transformation and unleash the potential to change organizations and society.
Collaborators:
David Fletcher, Ph.D. Candidate
Interdisciplinary Studies - Dalhousie University
Michael Frank, Coordinator
Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center Halifax
Dr. Debbie Castle, President
People Development Ltd.
Judy Johnson, Educational Consultant
Living Values Educational Program
Contact:
Mr David Fletcher, Ph.D. Candidate,
Interdisciplinary Studies - Dalhousie University
5636 Morris St, Apt#1
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada B3J 1C2
(902) 422-3700
bkhalifax@ns.sympatico.ca
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