Preserving the Consciousness of a Nation: Promoting Gross National Happiness in Bhutan Through Her Rich Oral Traditions

His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, desires to develop the philosophy of Gross National Happiness within the Kingdom, accentuating Bhutan\u27s vision of development beyond material economics and growth (sometimes reflected as Gross National Product). In order to balance and even outweigh creeping outside influences of materialism and self-centeredness, in addition to saying there is a better and more applicable standard than the United Nation\u27s Human Development Index, a national emphasis on storytelling and the oral arts at the indigenous grassroots level is being considered. The Kingdom of Bhutan has a rich heritage in its folktales and famous masked dances, setting the stage for the promotion of Bhutan\u27s Gross National Happiness through the time-honored traditions of oral communication