A Nation's Happiness Index: Why Does Vietnam Rank Second in the World?

Hearing that Vietnam has been ranked the second happiest country in the world, many people are surprised: "We are this poor, so how can we be happy?" Americans rank 105th, Australians rank 40th, and we are second only to Costa Rica. So what, in the end, makes us happy?

"Vietnamese people are surprised: we don't feel happy ourselves, so we don't understand how they ranked us at all."

Happiness Is Not Measured by Wealth

The Happy Planet Index is not measured by GDP. It measures psychological well-being and ecological sustainability. People look at wealthy countries and see unhappiness. Take Japan, for example: an ordinary worker earns four thousand dollars a month (about eighty million dong), but the cost of living is so high that they crowd into the subway like fish in a can. They have money, but they do not have happiness.

In contrast, the King of Bhutan, a small country in South Asia, introduced the concept of "Gross National Happiness" instead of "Gross National Income."

"I don't play that game. What matters to me is Gross National Happiness, not Gross National Income."

Buddhism and Nature: The Foundation of Happiness

When people investigated why Bhutan is the happiest country in the world, they found many reasons. Among them are two very beautiful ones: first, most of the people follow Buddhism, and Buddhism is the most compassionate and gentle religion in the world. Second, the people of Bhutan live in extraordinary harmony with the environment, protecting their forests with great care.

"Buddhism is the most compassionate and gentle religion in the world. The people of Bhutan mostly follow Buddhism, and this is why they are the happiest people in the world."

Why does loving nature create happiness? Plants do not only beautify the landscape; they also nurture life. We see rice fields that have been cultivated for hundreds of years without ever exhausting the soil, because the rice plant does not take its substance from the earth but from the air. A plant transforms air into solid material, and that is the miracle of life. When we cherish plants, we protect the life of this planet.

"Grass and plants are the soldiers protecting the life of this planet. Anyone who pulls them up wherever they see them is a cruel person indeed."

What Makes the Vietnamese People Happy?

Ranked second in the world, Vietnamese people need to reflect: what makes us happy? Thay Chan Quang points to two great factors. The first is good political leadership, which brings trust and optimism about the future. The second is Buddhism, which teaches us cause and effect (karmic law): planting good seeds surely brings good fruits. When asked, "Will life be better in the future?" the majority of Vietnamese people answer, "It will be better," thanks to that faith and that philosophy of life.

Another precious quality is that Vietnamese people love the work they do, rather than insisting on doing only the work they love. So even when working outside their field of training, they still work joyfully and remain content with life. This is a tremendous virtue. It keeps Vietnamese people from being picky about jobs, from complaining, and thereby sustains a high happiness index.

Three Virtues That Create the Happiness of Our Nation

The teacher vividly recalls the values that Vietnamese people must strive to maintain and set as an example for the world.

Whether poor or rich, the spirit of sharing runs very deep. You have all seen scenes from village life: late at night, a neighbor knocks on the door to borrow a few cans of rice because guests have arrived. The giver is also poor, yet shares naturally and willingly. That is the happiness of a people rich in human kindness.

In times of hardship, the spirit of mutual support is very strong. When central Vietnam floods, the whole nation, however poor, sends clothing and food. Year after year, the Vietnamese people embrace and care for one another, and that is an extraordinary source of strength.

Looking inward rather than abroad, trusting in the nation's inner strength. At least in the collective spirit, Vietnamese people take pride in a history of more than one thousand years of foreign domination, yet still rising up to win independence. We believe in the wisdom and strength of our nation, not depending on foreign powers. At the same time, we should avoid looking outward in consumption and in studying abroad, so as to cultivate the country's inner strength.

Our Responsibility

This ranking is not for boasting, but for following. Vietnam has the opportunity to become a model of happiness for the world to learn from. Therefore, let each of us live according to these beautiful values: sharing, supporting one another, loving nature, trusting our country, and practicing according to the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).

"We have the responsibility to preserve this ranking, not to compete with the world, but so that we may seek a model of happy living for this world to follow."

Let us begin with our own soul. A peaceful soul creates a happy family, a happy community, and a happy nation. That is the aspiration that the venerable teachers, the sisters, and every Buddhist practitioner have embraced in today's dharma assembly.