If you compare the material possessions of the average family in Bhutan, to what we have in the west, they are poor. But we are measuring by our standards, not theirs. There is a sense of peace, happiness and contentment that most of us in developed western cultures lack.
We measure our success by our job, the things we own, the money in our bank accounts among other things. We complicate our lives with negativity. When we find peace and happiness it is found with effort. We've been absorbed by violence, most of our entertainment revolves around it. Our children play war games before they comprehend that killing and destruction is horror. We live in a very frightening world and don't catch to that fact until someone close to us becomes a victim. Peace and happiness seem to be lost in our day-to-day lives.
Bhutan is easier to live in. People smile and bough. They seem endlessly patient and live with greater happiness and contentment than we do.
I've noted that the children here are beautiful. Each of them plays a different note on my heart strings.
I hate the thought of leaving.
Wonderful summary. Most of the world is actually like this...
ReplyDeletePoverty and riches take many shapes. In the Western World we often confuse one with the other.
ReplyDeleteI have seen other articles about Bhutan, comparing the culture with Western culture. On digging a bit deeper, Bhutan has a blend of East and West, deriving wealth from hydroelectric and natural gas extraction. What seems unusual is the degree to which the king diffuses the wealth among his subjects, unlike many other countries, where the wealth enhances the power of an elite to the disadvantage of citizens. Alaska moves that direction, using income from oil and pipeline resources to the benefit of residents.
ReplyDeleteDecades ago i visited Puerto Rico with a friend and was impressed by the hospitality of a sheltering porch offered as we walked in a passing rain. Two books in the '30s relate to your journey. "Shangi-La" told of traveler who stumbled into a hidden valley Buddhist valley of peace and longevity. "Human Destiny" envisioned a flowering of humanity 'hive mind' by interconnecting technology - before CNN, communication satellites, the Internet, cell phones and 'social media', which enable you to post to your readers from Bhutan.
It is worth remembering that primarily ''western' technology made your journey possible and also the prosperity of Bhutan. There is much more to be understood, for 'western' culture owes very much to the older civilizations of the Orient.