Bhutan: The Happiest Place on Earth

現在眞子さまが訪問中のブータン。ブータンといえば、「幸福の国」として知られています。これは、1970年代に第四代国王が提唱した、国民の精神的豊かさを示す尺度「国民総幸福量」=Gross National Happiness (GNH)に由来します。

こちらはGNHについて、数年前にワンチュク現国王が英語で語っている動画(2分41秒)です。

【ディクテーション】

GNH is the philosophy that acts as our national conscience, always [g　　　　] [　　　　] [　　　　] [　　　　] [b　　　　] [　　　　] [w　　　　] decisions for our future. It reminds us to strive for and work for the happiness and [　　　　] of every single Bhutanese at all times.

But now, why is it important? Now, I truly believe that, [　　　　] [　　　　] [　　　　] [s　　　　] [c　　　　] [　　　　] Bhutan, with an even smaller population, it is extremely vital that we have a [s　　　　] national objective. We simply cannot [a　　　　] [　　　　] [w　　　　] [　　　　] [　　　　] [d　　　　].

Now, I have no doubt whatsoever that GNH will always reflect the aspirations of our people and [　　　　] [i　　　　] [　　　　] [　　　　] [n　　　　]. Therefore, GNH is our [c　　　　] [　　　　].

But more importantly, I’ve always reminded [　　　　] [　　　　] that, today, we have to ask ourselves: “How do we continue to achieve GNH in the 21st century?”

Now, you [　　　　] [a　　　　] [k　　　　] [　　　　] [　　　　] that “what GNH is”, now, that will never change. But “how we achieve GNH” will change and it must. Because the very fast changing world [t　　　　] [　　　 ] [　　　　] [　　　　], in this globalized world, I’ve no doubt, will present both new opportunities and challenges for Bhutan.

But remember that it is the duty of every generation ― it is our duty ― to find new [　　　　] of achieving the goals of GNH.

So, [　　　　] [o　　　　] [　　　　], GNH today, for us, is the bridge between the fundamental values of kindness, equality, and humanity, and, today, the necessary pursuit of economic growth

【スクリプト】

GNH is the philosophy that acts as our national conscience, always guiding us to make better and wiser decisions for our future. It reminds us to strive for and work for the happiness and well-being of every single Bhutanese at all times.

But now, why is it important? Now, I truly believe that, for a very small country like Bhutan, with an even smaller population, it is extremely vital that we have a shared national objective. We simply cannot afford to work in different directions.

Now, I have no doubt whatsoever that GNH will always reflect the aspirations of our people and the interests of our nation. Therefore, GNH is our common goal.

But more importantly, I’ve always reminded our youth that, today, we have to ask ourselves: “How do we continue to achieve GNH in the 21st century?”

Now, you must also keep in mind that “what GNH is”, now, that will never change. But “how we achieve GNH” will change and it must. Because the very fast changing world that we live in, in this globalized world, I’ve no doubt, will present both new opportunities and challenges for Bhutan.

But remember that it is the duty of every generation ― it is our duty ― to find new ways of achieving the goals of GNH.

So, in other words, GNH today, for us, is the bridge between the fundamental values of kindness, equality, and humanity, and, today, the necessary pursuit of economic growth

conscience [kɑ́nʃns] 良心

strive for ～を得ようと努力する

well-being 健康で安心なこと、満足できる生活状態、幸福

whatsoever [hwʌ́tsouévər] 少しの～もない、全く (noを伴った名詞の後でそれを強調する)

aspiration 強い願望、大志

interests (of) (～の)利益

humanity 人間性、思いやり、慈悲

こちらはイギリスの自動車メーカー(の南ア法人)によるブータンのトラベルガイド動画(5分39秒)。英語は豪州英語です。

【スクリプト】

The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan certainly seems to be an easy place to be happy. The people have free education, free health care, and some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world. So it’s perhaps not surprising that 95% of Bhutanese people claim to be very happy with their lives.

[現地人1: “Be happy (with) what you have. (Be) satisfied (with) what you have.”]

[現地人2: “Our King is looking after us very nicely.” ]

[現地人3: “Money is not everything.”]

[現地人4: “Our best thing would be (like) our culture, (our) identity.”]

The Bhutanese government considers the happiness of the people to be the most important thing in any decision or policy that it makes. So Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product. But is that the whole story? *We suspect there may be a little more to it than that, so that’s what we’re here to find out, and hopefully we’ll find the secret to happiness . . . and maybe indulge in a little luxury along the way too.

To find out more, we head to see an expert in the capital city of Thimpu.

[現地人5: “As a Buddhist country, we do have those values integrated, where it is . . . (okay,) materialistic (, you know, material) wealth ― money ― that’s not the end; these are just a means to reach a certain end ― that is happiness.”]

Well, the people of Bhutan certainly seem to know how to have fun. Archery is a national sport of Bhutan, and they’ve been playing it for hundreds of years.

They’re also known across the world for their amazing festivals of music and dancing. We’re lucky enough to catch this performance at the Taj Hotel in Thimpu. This is the most luxurious place to stay in the capital, so it gives guests the chance to find plenty of happiness of their own. In recent years, super-luxurious hideaways have popped up throughout the country. So it’s not surprising that a host of celebrities from Drew Barrymore and Richard Gere to Keira Knightley are coming here for a slice of secluded paradise. Perhaps the Bhutanese are so happy because they’re surrounded by nature. 72% of Bhutan is covered in virgin forest, which means it’s not only carbon-neutral, but it’s the world’s only carbon-negative country.

So, we’re heading out into the countryside to **get to the heart of the matter. But before we go, we have to show you a Bhutanese traffic light. There was a traffic light here for about three days a few years ago, but people didn’t like it so much, so they brought the old traffic wardens back.

It’s actually quite fun driving a Range Rover here because the King himself is known to get about in a vehicle just like this, so we cause a bit of a stir wherever we go.

At the break of dawn in the village outside Punakha, a local market opens for business. 80% of Bhutan’s population work the land as farmers. It’s a hard life but somehow they manage to keep a smile on their face.

Good government, beautiful natural surroundings and strong family values certainly all contribute to Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness, but there’s one thing that underpins it all.

Bhutan is one of the world’s few purely Buddhist nations, and in fact one in every hundred citizens is a monk. So, we hit the road again, and we can tell we’re on our way to the spiritual heart of the nation by the pilgrims we start to see along the way. It’s a long and hard journey, but it’s made all the more perilous by the fact we’ve just entered Yeti territory. According to the locals, Yetis roam these hills, and just one glimpse of one can kill you on the spot.

The Tiger’s Nest monastery is the most important spiritual site in Bhutan. And we’re lucky enough to catch the high Lama to ask his thoughts on the key to happiness.

It seems fitting to end our journey at the Pungthang Dewachen Phodrang, which, I believe, translates to the Great Palace of Happiness. Throughout our time here in Bhutan, we’ve seen that this place is changing fast. And in times to come, we can expect to see some of the problems that we experience in the West as part of a developed urban life. But for now, Bhutan has something truly magical about it, and the locals have plenty of reasons to be the happiest people on earth. ,

＊there may be a little more to it than that ← “it”: Bhutanまたは同国の幸福度の現状全般 ; “that”: 同国の政策、つまり“The Bhutanese government considers . . . that it makes.”、またはその言い換えである“Gross National Happiness is . . . Product.”、またはその両方を指す。“We suspect . . .”からの意味は、「どうやら話はそれほど単純ではないようです。」あるいは「この話にはもっと何か(知るべきことが)ありそうですね。」

indulge in ～を楽しむ、～を味わう

luxury [lʌ́kʃəri ｜ lʌ́kgʒəri] 豪華さ、ぜいたく、ぜいたく品、高級品

along the way 途中で、道中で

integrated 統合された、融和した、同化した

materialistic [mətìəriəlístik] 物質的な

hideaway 隠れ家

pop up (不意に)出現する

a host of たくさんの

secluded [siklúːdid] ひっそりとした、人里離れた

virgin forest 原生林

carbon-neutral カーボンニュートラルな、環境に優しい

carbon-negative CO2の収支がマイナスの(carbon-neutralよりさらに良い)

**get to the heart of the matter 問題の核心に迫る

traffic warden〈英〉駐車違反監視員(ここでは交通監視員)

Range Rover レンジローバー(英ランドローバー社の高級SUV。この動画に登場する銀色の車。)

get about 動き回る、歩き回る

a bit of ちょっとした

stir 1. (液体を)かき回す(混ぜる)こと 2. 動揺、興奮

at the break of dawn [dɔ́ːn] 明け方に

work the land 農業を営む

underpin (弱い構造を下から)支える、支持する、(主張などの)根拠を与える

hit the road〈米俗〉出発する、出かける

tell by ～からわかる、～から見分ける

pilgrim 巡礼者

perilous [pérələs] (行動、状況、場所などが)非常に危険な、危険の多い

Yeti イエティ、雪男(ヒマラヤに住むとされる伝説上の怪物。チベット語で「動物のような人間」の意味。)

roam [róum] (当てもなく)散策する、うろつく、放浪する

on the spot その場で

monastery〈キリスト教〉男子修道会、(建物としての)男子修道院

Lama ラマ教の高僧(チベット・モンゴル)

fitting 適切な、ふさわしい

Wikipedia ― Gross National Happiness

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness

Wikipedia ― Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jigme_Khesar_Namgyel_Wangchuck

Wikipedia ― ブータンの言語 (日本語)

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%96%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%E3%83%B3#.E8.A8.80.E8.AA.9E