ABSTRACT

Since its beginning in 1651, Bhutan has engaged in two phases of governmental efforts to promote happiness for its citizens. From 1651 to the 1970s, the initial approach focused on Mahayana Buddhist traditions of seeking enlightenment, bliss, and happiness. After the 1970s, a second and modern period known as Gross National Happiness (GNH) was based, in part, on Mahayana Buddhist traditions. As influential modern global trends, including world trade, capitalism, and urbanization, have proceeded, this has caused a deliberate endeavor in Bhutan through GNH due to a new form of democracy since 2008 to conserve ancient Buddhist happiness practices balanced with modern happiness issues, like a suitable standard of living, adequate health care, or universal literacy. As a result, GNH has been a leading approach in Bhutan to further a new form of happiness in the contemporary era.