Bhutan

Photo from Google

A very interesting story about Bhutan - "the last Buddhist kingdom" - was just aired on the Rick Steves' show (www.ricksteves.com).  It seems that the talk has not been posted yet, but I will link it when it is.

Bhutan is a small country of 742,737 people, locked in between east India and northern China.  It is still a deeply spiritual society, trying its best not to be corrupted by an uncontrollable force of modernization (to stay away from problems like its neighbor Tibet has uncovered).  A recent leader realized that the Bhutanese would benefit from going out into the real world, little by little, to receive an education and bring it back to the country.  At the same time, they also decided to let some tourists in.  However, fees for traveling within Bhutan are very high, and tourists have to follow careful rules while there.  This is all an attempt to control the entrance of globalization into Bhutan.

Many interesting points were raised during the show.  Is Bhutan being preserved as an sheltered spiritual place for the entertainment of western travelers, without regard of what that preservation is doing to the local citizens?  In the following discussion issues of poverty were raised, as well as how the Bhutanese view the western society, and the role of a Buddhist lens in all this.

Bhutan has recently been rated as the happiest society.  Policies like having a day, Tuesday, when cars are not allowed within the capital, are meant not only to keep modern features out of sight, but also to urge citizens to stop by their friends house on their walk home from work, and not watch TV.