In this report, I want to clarify the meaning of Gross National Happiness (GNH) comparing with concept of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which was number 1 in Japan in 1993, but it got down to 18
th.
The former king of Bhutan made an international news headline in 1972, proposing that the kingdom of Bhutan should aim increased Gross National Happiness instead of GNP (Gross National Product)
In 2005 Prof. Y. Tsutsui in Japan proposed “Behavioral economics”. He suggested taking a departure from the traditional version of economics that we have become familiar: He proposed that we consider economic more in the framework of human behavior, which cannot be analyzed and summarized with rationalism. He mentioned that it would be in incorrect to assume that we seek monetary gain only. We are also controlled by emotions. Therefore, it is secondary to take into account the individuals philosophy to life, reason and purpose of living as well as of human existence.
He mentions ultimate goal of study of economics aims at “the ideal state of happiness in life”. From this point of view, Prof. Tsutsui's research, on the subjective view of happiness in degree, can be considered an important landmark. Dr. Tsutsui made a survey in Japan in 2005, asking “How happy are you?”
In 2006 the same kind of study was done by Dr. A. White, University of Leicester, and “World map of Happiness” was shown. The Denmark people were ranked as first, USA was ranked the 23
rd, and Japan was the 90
th.
I analyzed the meaning of spirituality in Christian countries and compared it with spirituality in Buddhism (Zen). I introduced Prof. Brook's book, “Gross National Happiness”, which suggests how American people is able to achieve higher degree of G.N.H.
At the 2011 biannual conference of International Health Evaluation and Promotion Association (IHEPA) held in Hawaii, I proposed to include test of Alzheimer Disease should be as a new screening item and study of fragility should also be added.
So I introduced the results of 3 years' cohort study done by the volunteers over the age of 75 years old (Health Research Volunteer (HRV)), who are senior members of the Association of the New Elderly. Its results of 3 years' follow up will be reported soon.
Finally I read my poems titled as “Hope and real happiness”. It tells Happiness is present in our mind of our hope, but not in the behavioral desire of us.
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