Diplomatic World_nummer 57

MATTHIEU RICARD
SPIRITUALITY
AROUND THE WORLD
MATTHIEU RICARD IS PROMOTING THE VIRTUES
OF HAPPINESS FROM BHUTAN TO UAE
I discovered Matthieu Ricard in 2003 whilst reading
“Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most
Important Skill”. I remember how I smiled when the
monk talked about the revolutionary concept of Gross
National Happiness in Bhutan. The country appeared
to me as a sort of sunny dreamy Shanghri-La.
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A few days ago, even more powerful and intriguing
information about my favourite philosopher monk
Matthieu Ricard surprised me. He had been recently
invited to the “World Happiness Summit” in Dubaï. He
used this opportunity to talk about Altruism in the Arabic
country where the Minister of Happiness is a woman,
Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi.
MATTHIEU RICARD ON STAGE AT UAE
HAPPINESS JOURNEY
Much of the media were talking about the Happiest Man in
the World who addressed the audience at the second edition
of the UAE’s Happiness Journey. Ricard gave four main
“recipes” that lead to happiness: Altruism, Compassion,
Wisdom and Empathy. He encouraged everybody to
meditate: “Even 20 minutes of meditation per day for a
period of five weeks is enough to train our brain.” He added,
“money can’t buy happiness. It can, however, bring happiness
to both the giver and the receiver when donated.” “When
enough individuals change themselves on purpose, we will
head towards a happy society,” he said. “There needs to be a
balance between social, financial and environmental wealth.”
The Happiness Journey is inspired by the legacy of the
UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan, and highlights his values which have been adopted
as national values.
Later, Ricard inaugurated the first day of the World
Government Summit 2018 by leading the audience in a
guided meditation. He repeated again what he has been
saying for ten years in the World Economic Forum in
Davos.
“Our beautiful planet is in urgent need of a strategy that
focuses on a qualitative life that achieves sustainable
harmony by remedying inequalities and achieving social
justice, as well as caring economics that balances financial,
social and environmental prosperity.”
Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi is
the Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing
in the UAE Government. H.E. Al Roumi is also the
Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office at
the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future in the
UAE government. Al Roumi is the Vice-President
of the World Government Summit Organization
that holds the World Government Summit annually
and brings together governments leaders, policy
makers, and private sector to explore the future of
governments. H.E. Al Roumi is a member of the
Higher National Committee for the Year of Giving,
established in 2017 to lead the development of a
comprehensive framework for the Year of Giving
initiative.