What is the best thing that I love about my work?

In serving all other forms of life is the best thing I love about my work. My work helps me to enable people to contemplate and realise their potentials to be a part of this beautiful interdependence by bringing self-realisation in themselves and bring a self-transformation towards a happier society. I love connecting with people and sharing my views of life and living that are required for happiness. I call myself a Gross National Happiness (GNH) Gardner.

What is my idea of perfect happiness?

My idea of perfect happiness is to be blissful or enlightened through serving other forms of lives, live in harmony with interdependence, and values and wisdom. Also, realising the true nature of my mind without worries, looking inwards (within the self) and not outside. I am referring to the lasting happiness and not the fleeting, momentary, or feel good moods we often associate ourselves with. Contentment (not with life but as we are and have) is the source of happiness and mindful the way to happiness. We need to live with the three most important pillars of happiness in life that are wisdom, moral and concentration.

What is my greatest fear?

The greatest fear that I carry right now is, will our generations have an opportunity to enjoy what we have today. There is excessive production and waste because of consumerism model of economy, and the global warming and the sea level rise are real.  According to research, in the next 50-70 years, many populated coastal cities and islands will be under sea rendering close to 200 million people homeless. Where on the earth are we going to house them when just two million people displaced from the Middle East and northwest Africa bring so much sufferance to Europe? The heat and the overburdened and dying oceans will practically bring diseases, heat, and lesser oxygen to living lives and there will be a shift in them and a natural collusion of everything will occur –and will be most destructive?

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

As a child I hated my existence. I always wrote small lines if god would be kind to take me away and give my place to a better one who will contribute better to the mother earth. I hate voice of judgement in myself. This makes me sometimes complacent and I hate it very much.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?

I absolutely admire my two Kings, His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who retired at the age of 52 in Dec 2006, at the height of his popularity and gave the throne to His Eldest Son, the Heir. He propounded that Gross National Happiness (GNH) is more important than Gross National Product (GNP) and His Son His Majesty the Present King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck took the GNH to a new pedestal by signifying it as Development with Values and bridging values with kindness, equality and humanity. Within six years of His reign one of the many significant achievements was bringing GNH Happiness to UNGA, NYC in 2012. Inspired by the GNH philosophy, UN passed two resolutions bringing happiness at the centre of all developments and 20 March as a happiness day.

What is my greatest extravagance?

My love, compassion and constant worry for others is my greatest extravagance. I cannot stop worrying for the sufferance of the world and I feel we have been left with very little time to bring the change in the patterns of human way of life and living. The GDP concept of development must change to human centred growth by balancing spiritual and material needs of human mind and body.

On what occasion would I lie?

If I had to save life of a human being, I would lie for a moment to bring senses in the situation and speak the truth. The world is cramming with wrong people adding pain to rest of the existence. Bringing transformation in people would be the only way forward for a societal change. To transform a human mind to be good, lies do not help, truth always wins and it is lasting.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

To convince the authority about the importance of our mission for bringing inner transformation for a sustainable social change. Further, I fail to understand why my colleagues cannot do more than what they are doing at the moment. Sometimes, I feel their combined work of a week would just a few days’ work for me… I dislike ineffectiveness.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

December 2012, I was invited to RMIT Melbourne by Small Giants in Australia to speak in a conference on Social Change. After my address, I bowed down like a Bhutanese would do (a “Yalla,” which is a low bow with your palms open below the knees) before and after speaking (or performing) on a stage. I heard clapping and as I rose to my height, I saw the whole hall giving me a standing ovation. Tears rolled down my check knowing how powerful the concept of GNH was.
The second time I felt completely fulfilled was in October 2016 in Philippines. On invitation of the Hon’ble Minister Gina Lopez, Ministry of Natural Resources, I had several addresses over four places in ten days and Philippians are highly inspired with the concept of GNH and wish to bring to their country.

If I could, what would I change about myself?

I am a workaholic. I wish to change to do less but achieve more. And accept the shortcomings of my colleagues, which often frustrates me. I like to be useful to everyone and I am just one. This makes me feel bad that I am not able to satisfy everyone. I cannot say easily “No” to requests.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

Instituting the GNH Centre Bhutan is one of the greatest achievements of our times and I feel honoured to have the chance to head it. Although, it is still in a nascent stage, the Centre has given the world a new approach to understanding the interdependence better, which is the only way to solve our dying planet….

What do the words ‘They Lived Happily Ever After’ mean to me?

Living happily ever after can only happen when one is enlightened. It could mean a good life ending or a beginning of a new way of living, which is totally compromised. Therefore, these words mean nothing to me because it is false. Sufferance in one’s life is a part of human habitation when one ceases the other arises – no end to it.  To me death is a situation of happy living ever after.

Where would I most like to live? 

Any mountainous country with abundance of forest and rich ecology and blessed with abundance of biodiversity is where I wish to live. This is presently my beloved country, Bhutan. I mostly prefer living among the wilderness in a mountainous set up.

What is my most treasured possession?

My calmness, forgiveness and acceptance are my treasured possessions. I am not attached to any material things in life because they are only means to provide us with certain level of ease in life so that our search for enlightenment continues.

What is my most marked characteristic?

Working hard and alone is one of my marked characteristics. In situation of peril, I can be calm and composed. I do not compare, complain or compete but I let it go and accept things as they are in my life.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

At Kuenselphodrang within the Nature Park the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha sitting tallest in the world at 52 meters is a beautiful place to look over to the north, east and south part of Thimphu valley. This is a perfect place to contemplate and meditate. The other is the Centennial Park close to national stadium, Changlemithang, located on the bank of fresh glacier fed Wangchuk River providing a space for a perfect place to appreciate nature and bring calmness to the self with interdependence.

What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city?

I never go out to eat excepting during official lunches or dinners hosted by different organisations. I only appear for social gatherings and try always to eat home cooked food. However, a few restaurant that come to my mind for Bhutanese cuisine are Simply Bhutan, Bhutan Kitchen, Folk Heritage Restaurant, and numerous others such as Ambient Café, Karma Café, Pizzeria, Utpal Pizza, and many restaurants around the town, including high ends such as La Meridian, Taj Tashi, and Druk Hotel.

What books influenced my life and how?

Among others Old Path White Clouds, Buddha Body Buddha Mind, Taming the Tiger Within, Why Men Lie and Women Cry, Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Map, The Great Escape, and Papillion.  All these books have made me more realised and transformed as compassionate, kind, altruistic, understanding, imaginative and humble person. It has enabled me to learn to listen deeply to the call of voiceless as well.

Who are my favourite writers?

Among others Thãy Thich Nhat Hanh, Dalai Lama, Alan and Barbara Pease Robert Ludlum, Henri Charriere, and Sidney Seldon.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

John Denver, Country roads take me home to the place I belong…. Polysemy – returning to true home in the universe is the only thing I will wish for myself on my dying bed. I would like to be more useful by being a most beneficial tree that gives nourishing fruits to living beings in my next life.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

My fiction heroes and heroines are Phantom, Superman, Tilla, and Superwoman. They all server humanity and the only home of ours, the blue planet, mother earth. They are kind, courageous, fearless, and humble.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan, His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Present King of Bhutan, His Majesty the Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Ashoka, Yasodhara, Joan of Arc, Jhansi Ki Rani, Mother Teresa, and others. They all are sacrificing and have sacrificed their lives in service of humanity and all sentient beings on this planet.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?

“Taming the Tiger Within” is a movie that everyone should watch. A few more Indian movies, I wish to suggest, among others, Taray Jamin Per, Three Idiots, and Lagan.

What role plays art in my life and work?

Art is a beautiful thing through which I am able to express my inner self to the world and bring a deep and true understanding to life and living. Love of art helps me to be creative, and my art is not on the paper but always rolling in mind. It helps me to be imaginative and brings happiness in work.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, and partner in crime?

Ms Kimchi Moyer is my greatest fan, sponsor and partner in crime. She is a Resopathist who can bring a new episode for all times to come in the health systems of the earth through resonance –the language of existence which is light, sound and photons. Health is the most important expect of happiness. We wish to work with her as a partner in crime combining Resopathy and Happiness.

Whom would I like to work with in 2017?

Definitely Ms Kimchi Moyer, Resopathist whom you can find at www.livinginresonance.com . The second person is Artist Mr. George H Lewis, NYC. These are absolutely the two with whom I wish to work in 2017.

Which people in my profession would I love to meet in 2017?

I wish to meet with Al Gore, Angelina Jolie, Opera, Melinda and Bill Gates, among many others. Al Gore for his spirituality to save environment, Angelia for being a human, Opera for understanding and wisdom, Melinda and Bill for their efforts to support the cause of humanity.

What project, in 2017, am I looking forward to work on?

Solid Networking, raising funds and beginning to build the GNH Centre in Bumthang, Bhutan will be my absolute efforts in 2017. I wish more people would understand the new development paradigm to change the course of history in the world from consumerism to interdependence economy. I will continue the advocacy and building partnership around the world.

Where can you see me or my work in 2017?

GNH Centre would have a few Centres around the world in 2017. We would have trained at least 20 people as Master Trainers in GNH. Many countries would have reflected calmly to bring a new economic development paradigm. The Centre would have received its due recognition as the transformative body of GNH in the world.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

Passion lives with every breath we take and therefore it lives with the human self until one dies. We can be young or old, our passion lives forever to take us on and on and be useful to the society until we die. An old man can be as passionate, if not more, than a young man. Passion only retires with death.

Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story?

Ms Kimchi Moyer, Mr. George H Lewis – two to begin with. There are others, I am afraid, they may not respond…they wish to deliver but remain hidden from the media. I feel Kimchi and George understand the media and hope they will revert to you when invited.

How can you contact me?