Professor Kin Zang Lhendup, one of Bhutan’s foremost experts on Gross National Happiness, shares his kingdom’s greatest secret – how to be happy.
Lhendup is an Assistant Professor at the Royal University of Bhutan. He has two Masters’ degrees – in Library and Information Studies from Dalhousie University in Canada, and Contemplative Education from Naropa University in Colorado.
What is happiness, and how do we create it? In many parts of the world, happiness is tied to individual achievement – how smart you are, how efficient, how much you earn. It’s all about the self. But in Bhutan, we think in terms of we, not I. We prioritise community, collective wellbeing, and the idea that individual happiness is inseparable from the happiness of others. The key to happiness lies in a balance between material and spiritual wellbeing.
When I’m teaching my students about happiness, I often find a good place to start is with Bhutan’s philosophy of Gross National Happiness, which serves as both a personal and professional compass for me. The concept was introduced in 1974, by our fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and is best described as Bhutan’s governing philosophy. It prioritises the wellbeing and happiness of its citizens over purely economic indicators. While we still pursue conventional indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we do it mindfully. In practical terms, this translates to adhering to four pillars of Gross National Happiness: the preservation of the environment, promotion of Bhutanese culture, sustainable and equitable development, and good governance.
The key to happiness lies in a balance between material and spiritual wellbeing.
These pillars aren't abstract ideals – they are deeply woven into Bhutanese life. Every five years, we measure happiness, conducting an exhaustive survey to provide our metrics, measuring 33 indicators from physical and mental health, to time spent in nature. The results show us where our policies are working, and whether there are areas that need further attention. It’s because of our commitment to happiness that at least 60% of Bhutan’s land is mandated to remain forested at all times, public healthcare and education is free, and tourism numbers remain strictly controlled. We’ve also broken ground on the Gelephu Mindfulness City in the country’s south – a visionary 20-year project introduced by the current King of Bhutan. It’s designed as a global model for mindful urban development – a sanctuary for reflection, healing and sustainable living for people from anywhere in the world.
Of course the best way to understand how the philosophy Gross National Happiness plays out in everyday life is to experience it for yourself. If you visit Bhutan, you’ll see how closely our spiritual wellbeing is tied to Buddhism, which emphasises mind training.
We meditate both morning and evening. We try to let go of hatred, anger, and craving. Happiness doesn’t come from accumulation – it comes from contentment. Our remote Himalayan kingdom is a world away from the buzz of New York City or the neon lights of Bangkok. We don’t live in a state of excess: what you’ll find in Bhutan is quiet, profound depth. I think it’s very common for visitors to Bhutan to come away with an extraordinary sense of how sometimes those with less are far happier than those with everything.
There are four Immeasurable Qualities in Buddhism that I have been teaching my students for the last several semesters: kindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity. We try to brainstorm and dissect the bad habits that could poison happiness – things that affect all of us today, from excessive social media use to burnout and sleeping with your cell phone next to your bed. The feedback from students is overwhelmingly positive. Something we always come back to is the practice of meditation. How to be present in the moment. For a beginner, it might seem simplistic or pointless. It takes a while to master the art, but once you have, it’s much easier to strip out materialism from your life.
My best advice for how to achieve happiness? Stop multitasking. In the West especially, there’s a misinformed perspective that the more effective you become and the more you do and have, the better a person you are. That’s a fast-track to dissatisfaction. I think everyone should cut down on at least half the things they are already doing and take an inward journey instead. Slow down. We are only here in this world for a moment. We don’t have to do everything.
The thing about Gross National Happiness is that it’s not just policy – it’s practice. And beyond meditation, it’s about community. It’s about service. It’s about looking at others through the lens of kindness. Ultimately, happiness is not just a state of mind – it’s a collective intention. Bhutan's model isn't perfect, but it offers a way forward. A way to live with balance; a way to lead with compassion; a way to measure success not by how much we own, but by how deeply we connect – with ourselves, with each other, and with the world around us.
Professor Kin Zang Lhendup gives regular talks regarding Bhutan's Gross National Happiness at COMO Uma Paro. For more information, or to book a visit to Bhutan, please contact our concierge team.
