The program encourages us to think critically about what happiness means in the Bhutanese context, and ask what we can learn about notions of “happiness” as contributors to our own quality of life. Our journey into the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan gives us rare access to vast and wild landscapes, challenging us to reevaluate commonly held notions of our role in the natural world.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS & OUTCOMES

• Meditation and hands-on learning with monks and nuns through multiple monastery visits 
• Develop an understanding of Bhutanese culture, life, and philosophy and how their approach to economic development and environmental sustainability contrasts to different parts of the world
• Hike up to Paro Taktsang, the sacred cliffside monastery also known as the “Tiger’s Nest” and experience some of the most majestic religious sites on Earth
• Meet with environmental activists and scientists working to preserve Bhutan’s unique flora and fauna

We learn how Buddhism, as the state religion, has had deep social impacts, particularly on the creation of unique government policies on conservation, preservation, and sustainable development. We also delve deeply into Buddhist philosophy, histories, and folk tales to understand drastically different ways of viewing our existence on this planet. We seek to understand how these embodied philosophies impact people’s daily choices. Through listening to both local villagers and professional academics, we gain insights to perspectives on the environment, our role in conservation, and the concept of earth as an interdependent organism.

Since the arrival of television in 1999 and a cascade of global influences, Bhutan has experienced a steady increase in foreign tourism which contradicts long-held traditions. How can we understand the pressures and adaptations of Bhutanese culture in the face of a globalizing world? In our questioning and exploration of Bhutan, we hope to find a better understanding of the worldviews and assumptions that shape our lives and happiness back home.