“The inevitable and compelling forces of globalization continue to shrink space, collapse time, exhaust resources and destabilise the natural environment. But instead of appreciating the need to come together to promote peace, harmony and sharing, we raise the threat to our collective survival and happiness through increasing viciousness in our competition for illusions of wealth and success at any cost. In consequence, the human narrative has become one of growing conflict, fear and stress within and among nations, communities, business, friends and families.
The world needs leaders who have the genius, conviction and courage to promote the wisdom of a shared vision for true human prosperity, wellbeing and happiness. We need leaders who will help us realise the true meaning of wealth and prosperity and enable us to become mindful of interdependence among all human beings and sentient life on our fragile planet. We need visionary leaders who can show us the way to a harmonious, healthy and happy human society.
I believe the World Culture Festival commemorating 35 years of the Art of Living is a celebration of such a leader and a way of life. I extend my heartfelt felicitations to HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on this very happy occasion and wish Him and the Art of Living continued success. It gives me great pleasure as well to congratulate Sri Sri on having been duly honoured by the people and government of India with one of the nation’s highest medals of honour at India’s 67th Republic Day ceremonies.”
Mr. Thinley was Bhutan’s first democratically-elected Prime Minister, serving from 2008 to 2013. He previously served as Bhutan’s Minister of Culture, the Foreign Minister and as an ambassador to the UN and several European countries. Mr. Thinley introduced Bhutan’s concept of Gross National Happiness to the international community at the UNDP Asia Pacific Millennium Summit in Seoul in 1998. In 2012, Mr. Thinley convened the High Level Meeting on Wellbeing and Happiness: A New Economic Paradigm at the United Nations. He now leads an international working group on framing a new development paradigm for the UN General Assembly.