18. Sustainable Happiness for Sustainable …...mind-based happiness with emotional factors and life perceptions, but Buddhism’s happiness also aims for mind development from mindfulness

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015

SustainableHappinessforSustainableDevelopment

ByDr.SauwalakKittiprapas1

1. BackgroundandRationale

Despitehavingeconomicprogressfromdevelopment,theworldhasbeenfacingproblemsfromhuman,socialandenvironmentalaspects.Thiscallsholisticconceptofdevelopment and the move towards sustainable development. For many decades ofinternational movement for sustainable development, problems in environment andsustainable development are still serious or evenworse. This should be questionablewhy the implementation for sustainabledevelopmenthasnotbeenveryeffectiveandthesustainabledevelopmentapproachshouldberethought.

While there isaneedforalternativedevelopmentparadigmandhappinesshasbeen raised as a goal for development, happiness concepts varying by cultures,philosophies, societies, values, and definitions have not sufficiently been analyzed. Sofar,theissueofhappinesshasnotmuchlinkedtotheissueofsustainabledevelopment,while conventional sustainable development approach still relies on economic, socialandenvironmentdimensionsonly.

Obviously, conventional idea of sustainable development, consisting ofenvironment, social, and economics, still attach to growth (or called ‘green growth’).However,continuedgrowth,mainlybyconsumption-ledgrowthusingresourcesmorethannecessity,seemstoconflictwithsustainabledevelopmentpath.

Alternatively,Buddhist approachof development focusingonhumanmind canlimit human desires to appropriate or moderation consumption based on real need.HappinessinBuddhism,focusingoninnerhappinessaimingfor‘sustainablehappiness’withthemodestuseofresources,isinlinewithsustainabledevelopmentpath.Thus,analternative development paradigm focusing on inner happiness as a key to drivesustainabledevelopmentissuggested.Thisapproachtacklestheproblemfromtherootcause, while the key inner-human element is missed in the conventional sustainabledevelopmentconcept.

As2015isthetransitionalyearfromMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs)toSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)thattheUNandglobaldevelopmentcommunitycommittoachieveby2030, it is timelytodiscussthenewideaofBuddhisthappiness

1DirectorofandInternationalResearchAssociatesforHappySocieties(IRAH)andcurrentlyDirectorofEconomicandBusinessResearchCenterforReforms(FacultyofEconomics,RangsitUniversity,Thailand).ThispaperisbasedonafullresearchpapertotheWorldBuddhistUniversity(WBU)[email protected]

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015conceptanditsimplicationstosustainabledevelopment.Thispaper,therefore,explainshappiness in Eastern Buddhist perspective aiming for ‘sustainable happiness’ and itsimplicationstoqualityoflifeanddevelopment.ThepaperdiscusseshowtheconceptofBuddhism’s sustainable happiness or inner happiness can make sustainabledevelopment effective, and thus, sustainable development concept has to link withsustainablehappinessissue.

2. HappinessClassificationinBuddhism

InBuddhism,happinessrankstartsfromthelowestlevelorphysicalbased,whichishappiness from acquisition or meeting sensual pleasures, to higher level or innerhappiness,whichcanbeobtained fromnon-acquisition.The innerhappinesswhich isbasedonmindandwisdomcanleadtothehighesthappinesslevelwithtotalextinctionofsufferingthatconsideredasrealhappinessorsustainablehappiness. Thefollowingthreetypesofhappiness,fromlowtohigh,aresimplycategorizedaccordingtoBuddhisthappinessconcept2.

1. HappinessfromPhysicalLevel

This is the lowest rank of happiness from meeting physical needs or sensualpleasures. It depends on external factors; therefore, it can be unstable andunsustainable.MostofhappinessinWesterntheoriesandstudiesrelatetothistypeofhappiness.Therefore,thistypeofhappinesscanbetemporaryandbeexplainedbythetheories of adaptation or aspiration/ social comparisonwhy happiness can be fadeddownornotincreaseproportionallywiththeincreasedinincome.

However, in Buddhist economics, happiness at physical or material level isneeded for meeting basic needs to relief person’s physical sufferings or get out ofpoverty.However,humanbeingsmaydemandovermaterialsandresourcesmuchmorethan the necessity level of human needs. Human desires at physical level can beclassified into two types: 1) the basic need that is really needed for improving realqualityoflife(realneed),and2)theunlimitedwantswhicharenotnecessaryoroverluxury. Following Buddhist economics, when there are internal conflicts in choosingbetweenthetwodesires,peopleshouldgoforthefirsttypeforimprovingrealqualityoflife.Thesecondtypeofhumandesireswhichareunlimitedandunnecessarycancauseproblemstooneselfaswellastosocialandenvironment.

Excessivematerialaccumulationdrivenbygreedmaynotleadtotheincreaseinhappinessandnotsustainable,insteaditcancauseproblems.Happinessdependingon

2ThefollowinghappinessclassificationandexplanationareinterpretedorextractedfromPayutto,P.A.

(2011),Payutto,P.A.(2012)andP.A.Payutto,(P.A.(1992).

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015externalpleasurestoserveones’needsmaycauseconflictswithotherswhoalsoneedthem.Peoplecangetstressandtensionsfromobjectdependentandsocialcomparison,and their happiness can be faded down with higher desire and pressure. This canincreasesufferinginstead.Thistypeofhappinessinvolvesalotofsuffering,soitisnotconsidered as real happiness. Eastern Buddhist philosophy explains this type ofhappinessastemporaryandmixofsuffering,ifnotbemanagedbywisdom.

Thus,physicallevelofhappinessisacceptableinthecasethatitissupervisedbygoodmind &wisdom and to be used for advancing human development. After thebasicneedsarefulfilled,humansshouldbeabletodevelopfurthertogainhigherlevelofhappinessorinnerhappiness(asindicatedinthefollowings).

2. HappinessfromMindDevelopment

Happinessatthislevelisthestartofinnerhappinessthatcangeneratedinsideone’sownmind.Peoplecanbehappyfromgoodqualityofmind,peacefulandmindful,lovingkindnessandcompassionaswellasgivingorsharingtoothers,insteadofbeinghappyfrom accumulation for self-interests. This mind level of happiness can be generatedfrominnerspirit,notfrommaterialacquisitionforthemselves.

This mind based happiness can also be driven by good desires; for example, thedesire to be useful for others (not for selfishness), to be happy to work for its ownresults (not for rewards), the love to learn and develop oneself, etc. It is a higherhappinesslevelthanthefirstonebecausethisismoredevelopedortrainedtobe,notdrivenbypersonalbenefitonly.Peoplecanhavegoodwilloraspirationtobegood,tobe knowledgeable, to be creative, to be skillful, to be useful, to help people out ofsuffering, to do good things, etc. Thus, this type of happiness would benefit societaldevelopmentandsocietalhappiness.

This type of mind development can be characterized by purified, clam, and clearmind. Positive psychology aswell asmeditation can be trained for having thismind-basedhappiness.Whenmind isdeveloped tohigher levelwithhigherquality, it leadstheway formorewisdom.Evenwith thesearch forhappinesson the levelof sensualpleasures/materials, itwill be inapositivedirection (i.e., not aim foroneselfbut forselflessness and more useful for others) bringing more peace and happiness of thesociety. Humansshouldbetrainedtoachievethistypeofhappiness,reflectinghigherlevelofhumandevelopment.

However, this level of happiness or good mind may involve sufferings due toexpectations,attachmenttogoodness,etc.Therefore,humansareencouragedtomovebeyondthishappinessleveltothehighestlevelcompletelyfreefromsuffering.

3. HappinessfromInsights/Liberation


Happinessat this level is thehighest innerhappiness,characterizedbywisdomorinsight with full understanding of natural truth; i.e., interrelationship of causes andeffects and natural changes. By developing inner happiness to reach this level, onewouldreachtruehappiness.

With understanding of natural interdependence and natural laws of theimpermanence,thestateofsuffering,andthenon-existing(orselflessness),onewouldhavepurifiedmindsand free fromanyattachment.With fullyunderstandwhat reallymattersinagoodlifeandtruehappiness,onewouldnotattachtoanycauseofsufferingand can achieve completed liberalization. One will neutrally understand everythingunder the natural truth without suffering. This level of happiness is considered asgenuinehappinessthathumanbeingsshouldbetrainedforanditshouldbethegoalforcompletehumandevelopment.Peoplewhoenjoythistypeofhappinessfullydesiretobe good and useful for others. They totally devote to work and help others withselflessness.Thus,thesocietywouldbebenefitfromthepeoplewhoachievethislevelofhappinessandsocietalhappinessasawholewouldincrease.

Thus, the progress in happiness development beyond the first level of materialbasedisencouraged.Peopleareabletobehappyfromminddevelopmentandwisdombased happiness, although they may not fully reach the highest level of ultimatehappiness.

3. InnerHappiness:theDifferencefromGeneralHappinessConcept

Innerhappinessishigherthanthephysical-basedhappinessthatbeingdiscussedingeneralhappinessstudieswhichhasunsustainablenature.Thosestudiesmaytouchonmind-based happiness with emotional factors and life perceptions, but Buddhism’shappinessalsoaimsforminddevelopmentfrommindfulnessandpurifymindalongthepath towards ‘sustainable happiness’. Although current happiness surveysmay coverspiritualwellbeing as one element in their happiness domains (composing of variouspsychologicalandeconomicfactorsinthesamerank),spiritualaspectisnotthespecialfocus(unlikeBuddhism’swhichgivehigherrankforinnerhappiness).Whilehappinesseconomics today explain the unsustainable happiness from theories of socialcomparison, adaptation and aspiration, they do not suggest a solution or how to exitfrom this problem (while that of Buddhism guides the direction to higher/ innerhappinesstoobtainsustainablehappinessandbefreefromsuffering).

Thedifferenceinhappinessconcept inBuddhismandthatofgeneraltheoriesmayeasily be illustrated in Figure 1. As happiness is the opposite status of suffering,Buddhist happiness aims for completely free from suffering at the highest level byencouragepeopletomovehappinesslevelupwardordevelopingthemselveswithinner

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015happiness,whilehappinessingeneraltheoriesstillattachtothefirstorthelowestlevelinvolvingalotofsuffering.

Figure1.Degreeofhappinessandsufferingatdifferenthappinesslevels.

InnerHappiness

Thebottommost level ishappiness fromsensualpleasureswhich is temporaryandinvolvesalotofsuffering,soitcannotgeneratemuchtruehappiness.Themiddlelevel represents the mind based level, which involve more happiness generated byoneself. Suffering is reversely droppedwith the degree of increased inner happiness.Thehigherinnerhappinessonecangain,thelesssufferingonewouldhave.Thatiswhypeopleshouldaimforhigherlevelofhappiness.Wheninnerhappinesscanbeincreasedtothehighestwisdomlevel,therewouldbenoroomforsufferingleft.

Western happiness studies such as those of positive psychology also considerinnerhappiness frommindlevel,butunlikelytocoverwisdomlevelofunderstandingnaturaltruths.Positivepsychologistsbelieveinpositivethinkingandstateofmindthatinfluences individual’s happiness. However, high level of happiness in Buddhismrequireshighqualitylevelofminddevelopmentfromtrainingssuchasmindfulnessandmeditationpracticeinordertogaininsightofthelawofnature.

So far, happiness economists somehow have adopt tools to research andmeasure happiness by applying happiness concept of JerameBentham (1789)’s thegreatest happiness of the greatest numbers, and mostly refer happiness to sensualpleasures.Psychologistsandeconomistshavemeasuredhappinessor subjectivewell-being with questions regard to life satisfaction (of which the concept can be varyaccordingcultures, societies,philosophies,etc).Theirhappinessdomains inquestionsmayincludehappinessdeterminantsatbothphysicalandmindlevel,buttheyaregivenequalvalue(orsameweight)forthetotalsumofhappinessorlifesatisfactionscore.Inotherwords, happiness is seenas a combinationof various influences from the samelevel/dimension.Incontrast,happinessinBuddhismarerankedindifferentlevelsfrom

Happiness

HS

HSuffering Happinessfromsensualpleasures

Happinessfrommindtrainings

Happinessfromwisdomandenlightenment

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015lowtohighcategories.TheseconceptdifferencemayberoughlyillustratedasinFigure2.

Figure 2: Comparison of various happiness domains in the same rank in WesternconceptanddifferentstepsandkindsofhappinessinBuddhism

Current happiness studies mostly explain happiness influenced by variousdomains;suchas,frommaterials/income,health,family&socialrelationship,mindandspirituality, etc. in the same level of equal importance;whereas, Buddhist concept ofhappinessdistinguishesthehigherandlowerformsofhappinessandencouragepeopletomove from the lower to the higher levelswhich ismore important. However, thisencouragementinBuddhismdoesnotmeantoforceallpeopletoacceptandpractice;itacceptsthatdifferentindividualshavedifferentlevelsofhumandevelopment.However,onesshouldtrytheirbests.

4. ImplicationsofInnerHappinesstoDevelopmentandQualityofLife

Unlikegeneralhappinessconcept, innerhappinesshasdifferentimplicationstodevelopment.Innerhappinesscreatedinternallycancomefromhigherdevelopmentofhumanmindandwisdominsideeachindividual.Thehigherminddevelopmenthumanbeings canachieve, the lessneed to exploit ordoharm toothers andnature for self-interests.Onecanbehappyfromgoodness,kindnesstowardsothers,orhelpingothersto be happy. Therefore, instead of taking advantage or accumulate materials forthemselves, they are happy to share them to others or allocate to the needy of thesociety. Real consumption is for the purpose of usefulness and real quality of life. Byclarifyingthedistinctionbetweenrealneedsandunnecessarywants,naturalresources

Wisdomlevel

Mindlevel

Physicallevel

Materials,Mind,Health,Socialand

FamilyRelationship,etc

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015shouldbeusedmoreforrealneeds.Withpeople’innerhappiness,naturalresourcescanalsobesavedfromlesswants.Realqualityoflifeistomeetbasicneeds(whichcanvaryacrosstimeandplaces),notfromunnecessarywants.Theoptimumiswherehappinessismaximizedwithrealqualityoflife.

The key implication which is different from the mainstream economicstheory is that people can be happy with real quality of life with modestconsumption and acquisition. Thus, they have no need to over accumulation/consumption/ production which leads to massive use of natural resources that areunnecessarytoincreasehappiness.Beinglesswantforthemselvesandlessdependentonmaterials,higheror innerhappinesscan leadto lessresourceutilizationandmoresocietalhappinessorpeacefulsocietiesaswellasmoreequitableresourcedistribution.Individualandsocietalhappinesscanbeachievedwithlowcosts.

Thus, promoting inner happiness (with less wants) would lead to efficientconsumption for real needs and efficient resources be used only for the purposes ofusefulness, efficient work and time used for usefulness, and more allocation ofresources to the disadvantaged. With inner happiness, resources would be moreallocated to the needy, resulting in fairer distribution of resources between the haveandthehave-not.ThesocietalhappinessasawholewouldbeincreasedPeopleshouldreceivebasicneedsmoreequally(resultinginreducingpovertyandinequality)toallowthemforadvancetheirhumandevelopment.Theconceptispro-poorandpro-equityaswellasinclusivedevelopmenttorelievesufferingsforall.

Therefore,realqualityoflifeinthisconceptrelatestothepurposeofusefulnessfor individuals and the societies. Quality of life in Buddhist concept does not implieshigherconsumptionforovercomfortableorover-luxurylifestyle,whichresultingintheoveruseofresourcesandinefficientresourceutilizationforthesociety.Themeaningofquality of life in Buddhismmay be different from the general quality of life conceptrelatingtohappiness(mostlyatphysicallevel)inthecurrentWesternconcept.

Insum,thisprocessoflimitedunnecessarydemand(resultingfromhigherlevelof happiness) is missed in mainstream economics and development concept whichbelieve that the higher consumption implies the higher well-being (as explained inconventional economics’ utility function). In contrast, inner happiness in thisconcept with less consumption and resource utilization can lead to higher(subjective)well-being.Mostof theoriesandapproacheshavenot incorporated thishappiness issue, especially sustainable development concept which still relies onsupply-sidemanagement of resources but not tackle the root cause of over resourceutilizationfromthedemand-side.

5.Buddhist-basedHappinessConcepts.

Someexamplesof relatedBuddhist development concepts thathave emergedrecently in the Eastern world are: Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and Gross

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015National Happiness (GNH). In addition, this paper also proposes a new BuddhistSustainable Development (BSD) focusing on inner happiness as a pathway towardswisdom and holistic sustainable development. These concepts concern more thanphysicalaspectsofsustainabledevelopmentthatdiscussedinthegreengrowth-basedandecologicalbasedconcepts.

1. SufficiencyEconomyPhilosophy(SEP)

The sufficiency economy philosophy initiated by King Bhumipol Adulyadej of

Thailand canbe seen as a practical developmentmodel of theBuddhist concept. It isbased on the Buddhist principles of self-reliance, contentment, moderation,reasonableness, the middle-path, wisdom/ knowledge and morality, which areconsistentwithBuddhisteconomics.Theword“self-sufficiency”inthisconceptmeanshavingenoughtoliveonandtolivefor,aswellasbeingsatisfiedwiththesituation(i.e.,people are satisfiedwith needs at themoderate level, less greedy andmore honest,consequentlylesstroubletowardsothers).

Sufficiency economymeans a philosophy that stresses themiddle path as theoverridingprincipleofappropriateconductbythepopulationatalllevels.“Sufficiency”meansmoderationanddueconsiderationinallmodesofconduct.Italsorequiresthestrengtheningofmoralityof all sectorsandgroups toadhere toprinciplesofhonestyand integrity, and serves as a balanced approach combining patience, perseverance,diligence, wisdom and prudence to appropriately cope with critical challenges fromsocioeconomic,environmentalandculturalchangesderivedfromglobalization3.

Therefore, sufficiency economy philosophy is beyond economics but sharesBuddhism’s core concepts for right living. Sufficiency economicprinciples rely on theconceptsofthree-elementsundertwo-conditions,asshowninFigure3.

Figure3.

3 Summarized from Philosophy of the “Sufficiency Economy” page in The King’s Sufficiency Economy and the Analyses of “Meanings by Economist”, The Office of the National Research Council of Thailand, 2003.


2. GrossNationalHappiness(GNH)

Bhutan’s GrossNationalHappiness or GNHplaces the core value of happiness

into a relationship with four main dimensions: 1) sustainable and equitablesocioeconomics,2)goodgovernance,3)promotionandpreservationofculture,and4)environmental conservation. Viewing economic growth strategy as misdirection inpursuing individual and societal happiness, GNH has inspired a new paradigm fordevelopment. Bhutan proposed to the UN and global development community topromotehappinessasanewdevelopmentparadigm4.

Inthenewdevelopmentparadigm(NDP),genuinehappinessarisesfromadeepsenseofharmonywithnature,withcompassionandcontentment.Italsoacknowledgesbasicneedsfromsocietyandtheenvironment(i.e.,cleanairandwater,goodhealthanddecent living conditions, knowledge, peace, security and justice, meaningfulrelationships, etc.) as preconditions for human-beings to flourish and achieve truehappiness.Itvaluesthesustainabilityofalllifeonearth(e.g.,humansandotherspecies)and interrelatedness. With global crisis in all dimensions, it addresses the need forholistic views on development. The new paradigm is expected to influence thetransformativepost-2015developmentagenda.

IntheNDPmodel,thevisionofsocietalhappinessviewshumanprogresswithinplanetary limits, thus itbecomesnecessary to focusonrealneedsand the fulfillingoftheneedsofallhumansratherthanthe“wants”ofjustafew.TheNDPalsorecognizeshappinessskillsasnecessarypersonaltoolstoexperiencehumanandsocialhappiness.TheNDPframeworkcanbeillustratedasinFigure4.

4NDP(2013)

Driven by Knowledge & Ethics

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015Figure4.NewDevelopmentParadigm(NDP)framework

Source:NDP(2013:p.VIII).

Under this concept, wellbeing conditions and measurement can be assessedaccording to the nine domains currently used in Bhutan’s GNH Index: ecologicaldiversity and resilience, living standards, health, education, cultural diversity andresilience, community vitality, time balance, good governance, and psychologicalwellbeing.TheseareunderkeyfourcomponentsofGNH:environmentalconservation,sustainable or equitable socio-economic development, preservation & promotion ofculture,andgoodgovernance.


In sum, Buddhist related concepts of Sufficiency Economy and GNH recognizenon-growthdimensionsofwell-beingandtherelationshipwithnature;thus,providingaholisticviewofdevelopment.Theyalsopromoteabalancedlifestylewithmoderationand contentment, rather thanmaterialism and consumerism as the economic growthmodel. Obviously, the two models disregard growth and place value on their ownpathways, which can guide for happier development for their societies rather thanfollowingthemainstreamone.

Giventheaboveexistingconcepts,anotherBuddhistapproachintroducedinthispaper(socalled“BuddhistSustainableDevelopment”–BSD)focusesoninnerhappinessas the key factor tomake sustainable development goal effective aswell as indicatesdirectionorapathwaytoreachthegoalofsustainability.Innerhappinesswhichcanbegeneratedinsidehumanbeingsandindependenttoexternalfactorsisbeyondphysicallevelofhappinessthatgenerallydiscussed.

6.TheNeedtoRethinkSustainableDevelopmentFramework

The widely used global definition of sustainable development from theBrundtlandreport5definedsustainabledevelopmentas:

“Developmentthatmeetstheneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeettheirownneeds.”

Thisconceptconsidersmeetingtheneedsofpresentandfuturegenerationsonly-without due consideration of unlimited desires of human beings. This is a practicalproblem for implementation. This framework is also unclear in the concept of inter-generational well-beings and how to reach the goal. This sustainable developmentframework seems to concern only physical well-being and seem to request presentgenerationtoconcernforfutureneeds.Thequestioniswhetheritcouldbepossibleifthepeopleofthisgenerationstillhavegreedandunlimitedwantsaswellasattachtolow level of happiness for themselves. This concept misses the path of ‘how to’ andseems to ‘trade-off’ with their present happiness (from fulfilling unlimited wants).Peoplemaynot be happy orwilling to do so due to their attachment to thematerialconsumption/accumulation;thus,therequestisunlikelytobepossibleorsustainable.Thisconceptseemstoneglecttherootcauseofhumangreedandselfishness,themainobstacleofsustainabledevelopment.

Withoutwell-trainedmind, human desireswill not end and lead tomore andmoreconsumption, leading toexcessiveenergyand resourceutilization. This typeofbehaviorwoulddefinitelybeinconflictwithlimitednaturalresourcesavailableintheearthaswellasconflictamonghumanbeings. Theworldwouldnotbeinsustainable

5FromtheWorldCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopment’sOurCommonFuture(1987)

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015path with the escalation of consumptions over time and over materialism in theconsumption-led growth economy. This is the key problem threating sustainabledevelopment.Particularly,theworldproblemisescalatedbytheincreasedpopulationandurbanizationaswellasindustrializationthatincreasemorematerialisticsocieties.

Problems of over materialism and consumerism arise at country and globallevels.Developedcountrieswithmorematerialistichaveutilizedresourcesmorethantheirresourceavailabilityandmayinvadeorbringadverseimpactsinenvironmenttolessdevelopedcountries.Themoredevelopedeconomyislikelytohavethehigherrateof resource use. For example, USA. alone with about 5% of world population hasconsumedabout40%oftheworldresourcesand30%ofworldenergy,andaccountingfor about 30% share for total global warming. One could imagine when emergingeconomies or big countries/ regions; i.e., China, Brazil, India, or ASEAN, etc., havebecomemoreurbanized, industrializedandmaterialized,muchmoreresourceswouldbeneededtoservethoseincreasedconsumptionandinvestment.

Therefore,giventhatresourcesintheplanetislimited,asocioeconomicsystemthatstimulatespeopletocontinuouslyconsumemoreandmorewithunlimitedwantsregardlessofusefulnessisunlikelytogoalongwithsustainabledevelopmentgoalandthat is why the current development paradigm under the consumption-led growthmodelcouldnotsolvetheworldproblemofunsustainabledevelopment.

Giventhatconventionalideaofsustainabledevelopmenthaslongbeenusedandhasnotsolvedenvironmentandsustainabledevelopmenteffectively,itmaybeatimetochange thedevelopmentmindset and rethinking sustainabledevelopment frameworkwith the right path and right views, which could shape a new direction for effectivesustainable development. Putting inner happiness as the key factor for drivingsustainabledevelopmentcouldbeacriticalchange.

7.TheConceptofBuddhistSustainableDevelopment(BSD)

This new sustainable development approach, focusing on Buddhism’s inner-happinessdiscussedinthispaper,maybecalledasBuddhistSustainableDevelopment(BSD). This places the emphasis on inner happiness as an essential for effectivelysustainable development. While other sustainable development approaches mostlyfocusonenvironmentandresourcemanagementorsupplyside,thisapproachfocuseson human behavior or consumption management which is the demand side ofsustainabledevelopment.

As unsustainable development rooted from human greed and destructivebehavior, the proposed Buddhist Sustainable Development (BSD) emphasizeshappiness issue and provide a direction to eliminate the root cause with innerhappiness.Thisproposedsustainabledevelopmentframeworkpromotesthelimitationtorealneedswithrealconsumptionfortruequalityoflifewhilenottrade-offwithtruly

This paperwas presented for the International Conference on Gross National Happiness on GNH, held inParo,Bhutanfrom4-6November2015humanwell-being or happiness. The present generationwould not trade-off for thefuturegenerations’happiness,as theycanbehappypresentlywith limitedrealneedsandhigherformsofhappinessunderthisBuddhistconcept.

TheBuddhistconceptofdevelopmentencouragespeopletorealizerealvalueofproducts/materialsusingorconsumingonly for improvingrealhumandevelopment.Thiscanrestricttheunnecessaryuseandover-exploitedresourcesofhumanbehavior.Humans cannot live without basic physical needs for survival, but can live happilywithout excessive materials that are over luxury.With inner happiness in mind, thelimiteddesireclosetostandardqualityoflife(realneed)wouldreducetheoverwhelmuseorconsumptioninluxuryorunnecessaryproductionandmindfultoconsumewhatreally good for life (real or efficient consumption). Human beings would have lessunnecessarywants and less production aswell as less intervening natural resources,whilehavemoretimetodousefulthingsinlife.Humanwell-beingcanbemaximizedbyminimizingconsumptionandleastresourceexploitation.

Theapplicationofthisconceptcouldlimitunnecessarymaterialusesandover-exploitedbehaviorofhumanbeingswhohaveunlimitedwants.This conceptbelievesthatpeoplecanbehappy(andevenincreasinglyhappy)bylivinginmoderation.Peoplecanhavehighlevelsofhappinesswithmoderateconsumptionandresourceuses.

With the middle way of life under Buddhist economics, consumption andproduction can be modest and achieved in the most efficient way with the leastutilization of resources. Thus,more saved energy and resources can be utilized forsocialdevelopmentandprovidedtotheneedy.Withlove,careandgratitudetonature,human beings would have less conflicts with nature and other lives. Economic well-beingwouldnolongerbeanaturaltrade-off.

Wisdomandmindfulness isthekeytodrivethenewdirectionofdevelopment.Human beings would have higher quality spiritually to move towards caring andsustainablesocietybydeepunderstandingofrelationshipofallbeingsunderthelawofnature.Humanneedstolearntoappreciatenaturethatenrichhumanwell-beingandhuman relationship should be under the culture of loving kindness and cooperation.This kind of inner happiness development would lead to sustainable path ofdevelopment.

In sum, this new approach of inner-happiness focused sustainabledevelopment suggests that human beings can live happily with moderateconsumption, cooperation and compassion to others, as well as harmony withnature.Thistypeofdevelopmentcanincreasesubjectivewell-beingofindividualswithcontagiouseffects,leadingtosocietalhappinessandglobalsustainability.

Suchdevelopmentrequiressustainablehappiness,developedalong thepath topurifymindstowardshighestlife’sgoalofliberalization,aswellasappropriatesystemsallowingmiddle-wayoflifeandmiddle-wayeconomy.Therelationshipofhuman,social,economic, and environment in this systemcanuse lessquantity of natural resources,whichisapathwaytowardsrealsustainabledevelopment.


The existing framework of sustainable development emphasizing only oncompromising needs of inter-generations may be difficult to achieve as long asindividuals normally concern for their ownhappiness at low level. Unless people aredevelopedtobeabletoenjoytheirhigherorinnerhappiness,theywouldnotcareforothersorfuturegenerations.

Thatiswhythenewapproachofsustainabledevelopmenthastofocusandanalyze happiness issue and stress the path for higher or more sustainablehappiness that can result in effective sustainable development. New sustainabledevelopment approach proposed in this paper promotes the limitation to real needswithrealconsumptionfortruequalityoflifewhileitdoesnottrade-offwithtruehumanwell-being and happiness.Withmodest and efficient consumption, people can behappywithhigherformsofhappiness.

UndertheBSDframework,humanbehaviorswouldbedrivenbywisdom,ratherthanbyself-interestsandunlimitedwantsasassumedinconventionaleconomictheory.This human spiritual focus is neglected in the mainstream sustainable developmentconcept, and perhaps that iswhy it cannot solve current global problems effectively.Therefore, right views towards life goal (with inner freedom/ happiness) is a firmfoundation for right behavior to others and nature, leading to sustainable path ofdevelopment.

This paper, therefore, suggests holistic approach for human spiritualdevelopment as a foundation for sustainable happiness for all and sustainabledevelopment.Thus,humandevelopmentforsustainablehappinessisanadditionalkeyelement to themainstream sustainable development concept consisting of economic,social, and environment elements. Given that sustainable development goals aretargeted to be achieved by global development community towards 2030, morehappinessanalysisinrelationtosustainabledevelopmentisencouragedforthefuture.


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