The following statement was delivered (Wednesday February 25, 2004) by Dr
Ronald Colemen, Special Representative of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and the
Shambhala Mandala, at the inaugural session of the international conference, "Operationalizing
Gross National Happiness", organized by the Center of Bhutan Studies in Thimpu,
Bhutan. The full Shambhala Delegation includes Dr Colman, Ms Trudy Sable and Dr
Julian Sagebian.
Measuring Genuine Progress -
Indicators for Enlightened Society
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Head of the Shambhala Mandala, offers his warmest
greetings, friendship, and best wishes to His Majesty the King of Bhutan, to the
people of Bhutan, and to the directors and participants of this Seminar that is
dedicated to manifesting the principles of Gross National Happiness in the
world.
The Shambhala Mandala, established in the last century by Vidhyadara, the
Venerable Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the father of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche,
shares close historical links and an exceptional spiritual connection with the
Kingdom of Bhutan. It was here in Bhutan, at Taktsang, that one of the most
profound root texts of the Shambhala Mandala - the Sadhana of Mahamudra - came
to the Vidyadhara. The Shambhala Mandala has also been blessed with the profound
teachings of His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, His Eminence Dzongsar
Khyentse Rinpoche, and others great teachers from Bhutan.
The name Shambhala has come down through history as an evocation of the
archetypal human belief in enlightened society. Today the Shambhala mandala
takes the form of a global network of meditation centres devoted to the creation
of sane human society, based on the profound wisdom of Shambhala Buddhist
teachings. Shambhala is often spoken of as a kingdom, of which the Sakyong
(whose title literally means "Earth Protector") is the temporal and spiritual
head.
The Sakyong has asked me to express his deep appreciation of the auspicious
potential of this gathering to create a genuine path toward world peace and the
cessation of global suffering. He sees this conference as an excellent and
timely initiative that will speed the flowering of the sanity and brilliance of
His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk's daring proclamation that the Kingdom of
Bhutan is more interested in Gross National Happiness than Gross National
Product. This view embodies the fundamental wisdom and compassion at the heart
of both the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings, and is at one with the intention
of the Sadhana of Mahamudra to overcome the materialism that now dominates the
world. The Sakyong sees the view of Gross National Happiness as a primary
foundation for the realization of enlightened society.
The Sakyong looks forward to close cooperation between Shambhala and
Bhutanese scholars and leaders in developing practical indicators of wellbeing
and progress that can be used here and internationally in the years to come. He
is confident that the shared social vision of this seminar will radiate sanity
and compassion far beyond the borders of Bhutan and bring immeasurable benefit
to countless sentient beings.
At this time of global violence, environmental degradation, and social
confusion, this important endeavour can pave the way toward a new model of
development that reflects the world's precious natural, cultural, spiritual and
human resources.
Our Measures Reflect our Values
Our goal at this gathering is not just to share our vision. It is to begin to
put it into practice. In order to do so, we have to be specific about the basic
requisites of an enlightened society and dare to say clearly what we mean by
Gross National Happiness. What are our objectives? And how do we measure our
progress in getting there? Every measure of progress, by definition, is based on
values, because it raises the question "progress towards what?" What we count
and measure, therefore, reflects our deepest social values, and in turn
determines the policy agendas of governments and other institutions.
In contributing to this gathering on behalf of the Shambhala Mandala, I am
also bringing to it my own experience as the Director of the Canadian
non-governmental organization Genuine Progress Index (Atlantic) which has been
working for a number of years to establish indicators that may be helpful to
developing a practical basis for implementing the notion of Gross National
Happiness.
So maybe we should begin by saying what Gross National Happiness is not, and
by looking closely at the values and goals represented by our conventional
measures of progress. Then we can more easily identify the values, goals, and
measures appropriate to an enlightened society based on Gross National
Happiness.
How do world leaders currently assess how "well off" we are? Throughout the
world, we currently measure our progress and gauge our wellbeing according to a
very narrow set of materialist indicators - our economic growth rates, which in
turn are based on measures of Gross National Product or Gross Domestic Product
(GDP). The more we produce, sell, and buy, the more the GDP grows, and the
"better off" we are supposed to be -- or so the conventional wisdom tells us.
Yet vital social and environmental factors remain invisible in these
measures. The more trees we cut down, the more fossil fuels we burn, and the
faster we deplete our natural wealth, the faster the economy grows. This is poor
accounting, like a factory owner who sells off his machinery and counts it as
profit. Our growth rates also make no distinction between economic activity that
creates benefit and that which causes harm. So long as money is being spent, the
economy will grow. Crime, pollution, accidents, sickness, and natural disasters
all expand the economy. The economy can grow even as inequality and poverty
increase. At the same time, many of our most valuable assets, like generosity,
volunteer work, unpaid caregiving, and our spiritual wealth are not counted at
all, because no money changes hands.
So economic growth does not necessarily mean we are better off. In fact, as
Robert Kennedy said 30 years ago, Gross National Product measures "everything
except that which makes life worthwhile." Fortunately, there is a better way
forward, and the Kingdom of Bhutan is the nation to embrace it publicly by
declaring openly that Bhutan is more interested in Gross National Happiness than
Gross National Product.
The Shambhala Mandala, too, is dedicated to the creation of an enlightened
society in which all beings may realize their true potential. If we can identify
some of the foundations on which such a society might rest, we can measure our
progress in getting there.
Pillars of human dignity
The Shambhala and Buddhist teachings recognize not only that all people want
to be happy and free from suffering, but that they are inherently decent and
good by nature. All human beings - whatever their culture, ethnicity, religion,
gender, or age - have the complete ability to lead dignified lives, to realize
their innate wisdom, and to create a brilliant, vibrant society based on
kindness and compassion. This is not a theory or mere wishful thinking. It is
the profound understanding that comes from the careful study and contemplation
of the human mind and the nature of existence.
What are the pillars of such an enlightened society based on human dignity,
and what are the measures by which we can assess the health of a society and its
progress towards Gross National Happiness?
Respect and care for all beings
First, the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings tell us that we are not, by
nature, isolated, egoistic, and self-centred creatures, but rather that we are
completely connected with and dependent on all other beings - an insight also
increasingly appreciated by modern science. This understanding leads to the most
profound appreciation of our environment and respect for our fellow beings and
for all species. Because we know that our environment provides the life-support
systems on which we depend, we do not recklessly plunder the natural world for
our own short-term gain, but rather nurture and care for it, so that it may
continue to sustain beings for generations to come. We appreciate and enjoy the
services provided by nature without degrading it.
How do we measure that? We can carefully monitor the health of our forests,
our soils, our water, our air, and our other natural resources - and the
countless species of birds, animals, and insects they contain. Instead of
counting the depletion of our natural wealth as economic gain, as the GDP does,
we regard this wealth as natural capital that is subject to depreciation.
Maintaining and enhancing the value of our natural capital is genuine progress.
How are we doing? Sadly, our children are inheriting a world that is not as
rich as the one we found. There are fewer fish in the oceans, fewer old trees in
the forests, fewer species of flora and fauna, and more pollution of air, water,
and land. An enlightened society that protects its natural wealth and the
quality of its environment, that restores its forests and soils, that protects
the habitat of birds and animals, that conserves energy and reduces pollution
and greenhouse gas emissions, will contribute greatly not only to Gross National
Happiness but to Gross International Happiness.
That same care and protection extend to the human realm. The Buddhist and
Shambhala teachings tell us that all beings without exception are blessed with
basic goodness and bodhicitta, and that a poverty-stricken mind can be
transformed into the wisdom of equanimity that enriches the world. An
enlightened society therefore respects all cultures, peoples, languages, and
communities; treats them with equal dignity and complete tolerance; and finds it
own strength in openness and diversity. Equity is a core principle of the
Genuine Progress Index.
The Mahayana teachings go beyond a passive acceptance of others and teach us
to give selflessly. Generosity is the first paramita. How do we measure that?
Volunteers continuously extend themselves without expecting anything in return -
caring for the sick, elderly, disabled, youth in need, and those less fortunate
than themselves; teaching the Dharma and other genuine traditions and
maintaining and beautifying places of spiritual practice and worship; and
enriching and improving their communities and environment in countless ways. In
the Genuine Progress Index, we carefully monitor the strength of the volunteer
sector, because it contributes so greatly to our wellbeing, quality of life, and
standard of living.
How are we doing? In Canada, we found a dramatic 12.3% decline in the level
of volunteer work in the last ten years. In Nova Scotia, where the capital of
Shambhala is located, we now have 30,000 fewer volunteers today than in 1997.
Imagine if the GDP had fallen by 12.3%. That would be a national emergency;
Cabinet would be meeting around the clock; we would call that a major
Depression. But the sharp decline in volunteer work is not a blip on the radar
screen of policy makers, and has never been discussed in any legislature in
Canada, because unpaid work counts for nothing in our GDP-based measures of
progress.
By contrast, an enlightened society appreciates and nurtures its volunteers
and recognizes their contribution as a manifestation of generosity. Even though
they contribute nothing to the Gross National Product, our volunteers contribute
greatly to our Gross National Happiness.
Basic security
To realize their full potential and their innate wisdom, human beings require
basic security. If people live in fear and poverty and are overly afflicted by
illness - if their lives are not free and well-favoured, and if they are
tormented by the hell and hungry ghost realms - they cannot easily practice the
Dharma. Some measure of basic security is essential to wellbeing.
How do we measure that? Safe communities free from crime; a healthy
population free from sickness; prosperous communities free from grinding poverty
and hunger signify genuine progress. How are we doing? It is a mixed picture. In
Nova Scotia, we are much safer than in most U.S. cities, but we still three
times more likely to be victims of crimes than 25 years ago, and we are more
likely to lock our doors than our parents were. We are living longer and smoking
less, but we are still afflicted by high rates of preventable diseases fueled by
an epidemic of obesity and physical inactivity. Our children have more stuff
than we dreamed off at their age, but they are not more economically secure. In
1989, the Canadian Parliament vowed to abolish child poverty by the year 2000.
But in 2000, rates of child poverty were higher than in 1989.
A society that strives for Gross National Happiness recognizes that material
and financial wealth alone does not ensure true security, wellbeing, and human
dignity, but that basic livelihood security is an essential component of
wellbeing. In the face of excessive materialism, people yearn for the true
wealth that comes from contentment, simplicity, and community. An enlightened
society will encourage the cultivation of many forms of richness, including
healthy family lives, strong and safe communities, an equitable distribution of
resources, and support and care for those in need. It will invest in improving
the health of the population and in ensuring that everyone has access to a
standard of living that sustains their health and wellbeing as well as that of
their families and dependants. That security is not an end in itself, but
creates a supportive environment that encourages all citizens to realize their
full potential.
Education
The attainment of true knowledge and wisdom for the benefit of all beings is
the ultimate goal of the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings. Education in this
sense does not merely refer to a set of curricula for the classroom or for job
training. It includes a deep exploration and understanding of the way the world
works - our minds, bodies, and the society and environment in which we live -
and it involves great respect for the wisdom of our teachers, elders and
traditions.
How do we measure that? Just as we described care for our environment as an
investment in natural capital and in our natural wealth, so services and
programs that foster true education are not just a "cost" (as in most government
ledgers) but a profound investment in human capital and in the future. Education
is not only essential for human beings to achieve their full potential, both
individually and collectively, but it is also key to dealing with the
environmental, social, health, and economic challenges mentioned above, and to
resolving conflicts in peaceful ways. A good education will promote respect for
diversity and for other cultures, and will promote peaceful and mutually
respectful relations between peoples holding widely divergent views.
How are we doing? This depends entirely on what we mean by "education." The
schools and universities of our world are turning out an unprecedented number of
graduates, but it is questionable whether our wisdom or understanding as a
society is growing as a result. Of all the components of the Genuine Progress
Index, we have therefore found the education component the most challenging in
terms of indicator development, as good indicators must assess the quality of
the education and its outcomes, not just the number of graduates. To take a
crude example, we might well put greater trust in a Finance Minister who had
never studied conventional economics than in one with a graduate degree in the
kind of economics that takes economic growth as its unquestioned paradigm and
dogma. The sad reality is that most economics texts still take an insular view
of the economic system as separated from social and environmental realities.
True education must be directed towards the full development of human
capacities. It must encourage students to express their innate wholeness,
strengthen their kindness and ability to help others, and stimulate them to
participate in the evolution of a humane and decent society. Such an education
will promote a culture of resourcefulness, initiative, and cooperative effort.
Because of the challenges in devising indicators capable of measuring these
outcomes, we have left the development of the education indicators to the very
end of our Genuine Progress Index development. In fact, we currently have
researchers working on this very issue, with the help of a research grant from
Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Certainly we see education as a life-long process, not just as something that
happens to young people in schools, and we therefore see free time as an
essential prerequisite for further education and human development over the
life-time. In measures based on the Gross National or Domestic Product, free
time has no value. The more hours we work for pay and the more busy and stressed
we are as a result, the more the economy will grow, and the "better off" we are
supposed to be. The Genuine Progress Index, and a society based on Gross
National Happiness, will give explicit value to free time, without which study,
contemplation, and meditation are not possible.
Interestingly, as women have entered the paid labour force in ever greater
numbers, their free time has shrunk dramatically, since women still bear the
lion's share of unpaid household work. Women's total work burden of paid and
unpaid work and their growing time stress are never acknowledged in GDP-based
measures of progress, which ignore both unpaid work and free time. While the
Gross National Product only counts paid work time, enlightened measures of
progress for a society based on Gross National Happiness will account for all of
people's time - their paid work, unpaid work, free time, and education. In the
work of Genuine Progress Index, we therefore use time use surveys and time
stress surveys as key measures of wellbeing.
The Nova Scotia Genuine Progress Index
These are a few of the key pillars of an enlightened society based on Gross
National Happiness. The list above is by no means exhaustive, and serves only to
illustrate some of the key elements of our human, social, and natural capital -
our innate wealth - that are ignored by our current GNP and GDP-based measures
of progress. Fortunately, there are better ways to measure progress that do take
these vital dimensions of wellbeing into account.
Nova Scotia's new Genuine Progress Index or GPI assigns explicit value to
environmental quality, our natural wealth, population health, livelihood
security, equity, free time, and educational attainment. It values unpaid
voluntary and household work as well as paid work. It counts sickness, crime and
pollution as costs not gains to the economy. The GPI methods can help provide a
more complete and accurate picture of how societies are really doing in ways
that more accurately reflect humanity's deepest values.
At this conference and in the months and years to come, we look forward to
exploring with our Bhutanese colleagues whether and how any of the GPI measures
are relevant to Bhutan, how they can be adapted to Bhutanese conditions and
circumstances, what additional indicators important to Bhutan might be needed,
and how they could be measured in practical ways that can help guide day-to-day
policy making.
To this end, and to initiate this further dialogue, GPI Atlantic has prepared
a separate, lengthy (180 pages), and detailed technical report for the Centre
for Bhutan Studies and the Inner Asia Centre for Sustainable Development. This
document suggests a potential framework for measures of Gross National
Happiness, and discusses methodologies, data requirements, reporting systems,
strengths and limitations of expanded capital accounts that include measures of
human, social, and natural capital, and other technical details. It also reviews
our own work developing wellbeing and sustainable development indicators in Nova
Scotia and attempts to summarize some of the lessons we have learned as well as
potential directions for future research. While some of this technical
discussion may be premature here, and while this document is far too long and
detailed to present to this seminar, we have suggested that it might be posted
on the Gross International Happiness web site for those interested specifically
in measurement issues.
Here, the main point is to appreciate the profound importance of what the
Centre for Bhutan Studies and the Inner Asia Centre for Sustainable Development
have undertaken with this initial seminar. Bhutan has clearly, directly,
eloquently, and profoundly challenged the dominant materialist ethic embodied in
our GNP and GDP-based measures of progress. That places Bhutan in the forefront
of the community of nations on this issue, able demonstrate a new path forward
that can be a model of development for many countries in the world.
The ripples from this seminar will spread far and wide, helping to lay the
basis for enlightened societies worldwide, so that the confusion engendered by
measures based on Gross National Product will be transformed into the wisdom of
Gross International Happiness.
SHAMBHALA MEMPHIS |
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