The need to really change

His Royal Highness The Gyalsey receiving blessings for the Royal Charter on the Gelephu Mindfulness City from the sacred Machen Lhakhang in Punakha is an auspicious and important step as it is seeking the most sacred of blessings to carry out profound new changes.

Much has been written about what Gelephu Mindfulness City means for Bhutan and what it is all about.

However, there is a danger of losing sight of the bigger picture if we focus just on Gelephu.

The Gelephu project is not just about Gelephu, but it signals a bigger change for the whole of Bhutan.

It is well known that the project, while starting in Gelephu, will not be confined just there but it is expected to flow into other regions and Dzongkhags.

For example, if the project does well there then it can be replicated in other regions or if investors in Gelephu want to reside in places like Paro, Thimphu etc. then they can do so.

We will be putting too much expectation and stress on Gelephu if only it is supposed to change, but rather we must use the project as a catalyst to transform the rest of Bhutan for the better.

It is also well known that if certain things or systems work well in Gelephu then it will be replicated in other parts of Bhutan.

The Gelephu project is Bhutan adopting changes on its own terms as it always has, but change we must.

In this context, apart from the pull factor of Australia, Canada etc., we must also try and resolve the push factors in Bhutan.

Though there are multiple push factors the commonality in all of them is a refusal to change and being stuck in the old way of doing things.

Here a general example is that Bhutan is the youngest country in South Asia but our mindset, systems and way of doing things make it look like we are a nation of geriatrics.

This is partly why the young feel so suffocated here and see no hope or future and head out to foreign shores.

While preservation of old ways is important we Bhutanese also have a bad habit of grasping on to form over substance and old outdated ways over new ways of doing things. 

Culture itself must be willing to change and adapt to the times if it wants to remain relevant.

The Gelephu Mindfulness City project should not be seen in isolation as an infrastructure or investment project in Gelephu, but we should look at it as an opportunity to bring far reaching changes in our very mindset so that we can move forward for our common prosperity and happiness.

There is nothing permanent except change.-Heraclitus