The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small Himalayan country of about 700,000 people. The fourth king of Bhutan ascended the golden throne at just 17 years of age after the unexpected demise of his father. The young king understood that his people’s fate depended on his decisions, so there was no room for error. Therefore, he decided the success of his country would be measured by his people’s happiness, and he would advocate for and reflect Gross National Happiness (GNH) in his policies. His son, the fifth king of Bhutan, took his father’s noble vision, and today he leads Bhutan with benevolence.
It is difficult to articulate a single dream that champions all dreams people might have for the world. Universal peace and harmony, education for all, poverty eradication, and protecting the environment are all virtuous dreams. But I think there is a dream more important than all of those. During our king’s coronation, he spoke to us and said that as a king, he shall not have any dream of his own. His only dream would be that of his people. Following my king’s wise footsteps, I submit that my dream is for all the dreamers.
Currently, I serve as the producer of Drukyul’s Literature Festival, a decade-old festival and an inclusive space for diverse ideas for a global community of writers. The event was born from the noble aspiration of the Queen Mother of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, a celebrated author herself. Every year, about 400 to 500 people visit the site, with over 100,000 people engaging through our social platforms. In many ways, my job is to help create a space for people all over the world to share their dreams.
There is a Buddhist practice of doing something virtuous and then offering that virtue to the benefit of all sentient beings. This practice of donating your virtue for others’ well-being is perhaps the most beautiful aspect of Buddhism. And as expected, my favorite prayer is “Oh Bodhisattva, the precious jewel of compassion. I pray for your birth. May you continue to be born for the well-being of others. And may your actions of benevolence spread far and wide.” Bodhisattva is, put simply, a compassionate person, and I believe there is Bodhisattva in all of the dreamers. My dream is that all the dreams dreamt by dreamers worldwide spread like wildfire, infecting the entire world with dreams of peace, love, harmony, and universal kinship.
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