With clear, simple prose, and poetic turns of phrase, this inspirational collection of quotations reflects the unique country of Bhutan and its universal embrace of compassion, understanding, and kindness. Some of the quotes are also a bit quirky and funny—why not? After all, this remarkable little kingdom in the Eastern Himalayas just may hold the secret to lifelong happiness. Renowned for their government edict that “gross national happiness is more important than gross national product,” the Bhutanese grounding in Buddhist ideals suggests that material and spiritual development should occur side by side—something we can forget too often. So dive into this inspiring collection of wisdom, proverbs, and general sage advice to help you on your own road to happiness—or at least put a smile on your face.
Although, as the Bhutanese saying goes,
You don’t have to smile if you are pleased, nor do you have to frown if you are displeased. People who do this don’t get so many wrinkles!
One dream cannot rest on two pillows.
Evil words are like poisonous flowers. Evil actions are like poisonous roots.
It is more important to have good teeth in your head than a hat which fits properly on it.
Just as there are green fertile pastures and barren plains, the same is true for the territory of the heart and mind.
If you take the jungle away from a free, roaming snow leopard it will feel like a poor street dog.
So give the gift of happiness today!