GNH TORCH BEARERS
A GNH wave – if one may call it that – is building up within Bhutan with school students vouching that their beliefs, attitudes and even their lives were transformed by what they learned during the recent GNH meetings in Thimphu and Paro.
They said they have become much more humane, practiced meditation both at home and school, and were socially and environmentally more responsible.
They were mindful of the consequences of their deeds, and were trying to imbibe the spirit of altruism and volunteerism in others as well as themselves. Many of them had even turned vegetarian.
But, most of all, they were a much happier lot, having realized that the key to one’s own happiness lies in the happiness of others.
Sixteen class XII students, from various higher secondary schools, informed the prime minister today that they were GNH adherents. They were taking what they learned across to their colleagues in schools, teachers, parents, siblings, and even rank outsiders.
Dorji Tshomo Tshering reported that her school and her home were abuzz with GNH activities. Even her younger sister had started asking her about GNH. She has learnt to socialize, share sorrows to reduce it and share happiness to increase it.
She is also much more humble, willing to rejoice in the successes of others, not her alone. “Previously I was thinking only of myself,” she said. “I have learned the joy of sharing.”
Rohit Gurung discovered, after attending the workshops, that GNH values were inherent in the education curriculum. Poetry and literature, for example, already taught similar values except that he was not able to place it in a context before.
He asked the prime minister that even parents needed GNH education because home is where most learning took place.
Yeshey Choden was besotted by the concept of community vitality that GNH emphasized on. As a result, she has begun visiting her relatives during the weekends to keep the family bond alive and strong. Realizing that positive attitude is all important she has taught her two younger sisters “to think and do good”.
“I think we can make a difference,” she said.
When Tandin Dorji, during one vacation, decided that he would help renovate a monastery, he felt he would be ridiculed by the people around. He vowed that he will take it with renewed vigour after his class XII examinations.
But it was Tshewang Gyeltshen who put his GNH lessons on trial the quickest. After the workshops in Paro, along with some friends he undertook a trip to Taktshang. Along the way, they picked up whatever plastics and bottles were strewn about.
It resulted in a most satisfying day for the group.
“Everyday when I walk to school, I pick up litters and put them in the bins,” he said. “I know I cannot collect all but I know I am making some difference.”
While Sonam Choden was inspired by seeing even foreigners sharing their ideas on how to promote GNH, Deevan Gurung wants to serve not just the country but the whole world.
“Today whatever I do I try to understand the consequences of my action,” said Deevan Gurung.
She had a fiery temper, and was more prone to think ill than good of others. That was Tashi Wangmo before she got smitten by GNH. Today, she has her principal’s permission to help fellow students learn breathing and meditation.
“My brothers and sisters are surprised by the change they see in me, and I tell them it is GNH.” She said.
Phub Gyeltshen dedicates five minutes each, every morning and evening, to meditation while Penjor has started caring about the sentiments of others, and even shares his GNH knowledge with his parents.
And, if one came across plates and cups made of dried leaves at a recent trade fair in Thimphu, the initiative came from Kezang Yhudon. But, before she embraced GNH, she was, by her own admission, someone who felt the climate change problem was for others to fix.
Thinley Phuntsho stopped stealing meat from the kitchen when meat was not served during dinners at home. Munna Tamang stopped wearing gold chain and gold earrings at school because she realized it was not proper and did not make her friends feel good.
Tshering Choden learned serving her parents was being true to GNH. Chimi Dema meditates before confronting her heavy science textbooks while Ugyen Samdrup believes that GDP is a facade while GNH is not.
“I cannot do everything but I should not stop doing what I can,’ said Ugyen Samdrup.
Yeshey Choden believes that happiness is not about having beaten fellow students in studies but about having made her parents proud and become a “special” daughter.
Schools have changed, too. Some teachers had given up bad habits like chewing doma while the principals carry themselves about with much more humility. Meditation is a must in most schools.
Dasho Karma Ura of the Center for Bhutan Studies (CBS) was “encouraged” by what the students had to say. “I am taking notes of what young people are saying after 25 years,” he said. “So far I was taking notes only of what senior people were saying.”
Being humble and mindful, he said, were extraordinary qualities which the students were attempting to imbibe.
“You, as student leaders, have correctly and heartrendingly taken over the responsibility of transforming our education system, thereby enlightening the Bhutanese society,” said the prime minister. “I think the journey has begun.”
He reminded the students that GNH comprised values that have made human society what it is. Its decline today resulted from forgetting these values.
“When you pick up a sweet wrapper and put it in the litter box, I assure you, you are impacting on society,” he said. “You must now become the champions of GNH, for the continuity of human values and human race.”
With these young people around, ever ready to learn, ever ready to shoulder the task of upholding the nation’s philosophy, ever ready to work on being trailblazers for the generations to come, the GNH nation surely is in safe hands.
Source: bhutantoday