Mindfulness

The autumn 2025 edition of The Druk Journal will explore the concept of “mindfulness”, from its origins in Buddhist philosophy to its practical applications in contemporary society. This theme aims to provide a varied and nuanced understanding of mindfulness as more than a trendy wellness practice, examining its deeper significance as both a spiritual discipline and a guiding principle for national development. As Bhutan interprets mindfulness living in the 21st century through initiatives like the Gelephu Mindfulness City, we examine how this ancient concept can authentically inform governance, urban living and daily life in a rapidly changing world. How do we comprehend a term that applies to situations across the lifespan, from childhood to old age? How do we define a concept whose interpretation ranges from a “feel good” culture to the ultimate wisdom?

Spiritual origins

The concept of mindfulness in Asia goes back to the Vedic Times and is found in all religious thoughts/teachings like Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Jainism. Some academics even describe mindfulness as being universal. It has inspired practices like meditation, martial arts and qigong, calligraphy and it had been recognised as a remedy for a mental health as well as an ingredient for individual and community well-being.

In its original context, mindfulness is inseparable from Buddhist ethics, wisdom, and the path to liberation from suffering. The concept of mindfulness (smṛti and sati in Sanskrit and Pali) was taught by the Buddha to know your mind as a means to achieve self-realisation. It is a meditation practice. In a socio-cultural context, it is understood as a heightened awareness and consciousness of the values of life.

Mindfulness is a thought-provoking study in Science and Humanities, weaving together ancient wisdom and modern scientific understanding. Its principles inform good governance and public policy, business ethics and organisational culture, health care and indigenous health, child development and educational practices. As both a personal practice and social philosophy, mindfulness offers a framework for addressing contemporary challenges by fostering greater awareness and action across these domains.

Mindfulness Today

Introduced in the west by Buddhist masters as a meditation practice,  mindfulness is now a large industry in itself in the modern world—a condition for spiritual practice, a focus for research, but often divorced from its traditional roots and reduced to a technique for stress relief, mental therapy, self-improvement, or even performance enhancement. It is a buzzword.

It was popularised by spiritual seekers of different backgrounds who travelled to Asia in the 1960s and 1970s in search of Gurus and wisdom teachings. Like many other trends seen over the decades, young Asians, whose ancestors were the source of such wisdom, began to “do mindfulness” western style.

Once adopted by Western society, mindfulness was repurposed, branded, commodified, and aggressively marketed for use in a secular context to reduce stress, enhance attention, and boost performance.

In Bhutan

Bhutan adopted a mindful approach to development and change, drawn from values  shaped over the generations and articulated as Gross National Happiness by the fourth King. This philosophy is a reminder that human development needs higher aspirations beyond material progress. As terminology evolves with time, mindfulness is an expression of the core values that GNH encompasses.

Bhutan, a Vajrayana Buddhist kingdom, offers a unique vantage point for understanding mindfulness as more than just a tool for well-being. Traditional practices of mindfulness in Bhutanese culture and daily life is a means to transcend worldly and inner distractions, addressing ignorance and negative emotions. It is conscious living. And it is a reminder to instill values such as interdependence, impermanence, in the culture of governance as well as the education system rather than merely pursuing efficiency and growth. While, in the West, there is a devaluation of the concept, mostly based on an individual perception of mindfulness, in Bhutan it is a shared consciousness in society.

The Gelephu Mindfulness City

Envisioning Bhutan’s future, the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), maintains mindfulness at the core of nation-building. Unlike conventional urban centres designed purely for economic growth, GMC aims to redefine city life by integrating mindfulness principles into its physical design, social systems, and governance structures.

As a special administrative region (SAR), GMC is defined by governance features focusing on investor-friendly laws and a comfortable and safe living environment aligned with mindful principles. Its uniqueness is that GMC offers investors and residents a new scenario of balanced living in harmony with nature, and the conditions for a prosperous life for the people, where residents experience life in harmony with nature with greater awareness. The city represents a bold experiment in conscious urbanisation.

A 21st century SAR with a Bhutanese identity raises compelling questions and exciting challenges that will inform policies and mindful approaches to nation building beyond Bhutan’s borders. The city’s investor-friendly policies will be uniquely balanced with regulations that ensure development remains aligned with mindful principles.

GMC represents a bold experiment in conscious urbanisation—one that acknowledges development as inevitable while questioning its conventional forms. It offers the world a living laboratory for how ancient wisdom might address modern challenges of urban life.

Inviting articles

 To help clarify mindfulness in its truest sense, The Druk Journal calls for articles that will challenge the superficial modern interpretations, restore its depth and ethical foundation, and help reorganise the life of a progressive society.

The Druk Journal seeks insightful and engaging articles and essays that offer refreshing, clear, and compelling perspectives on mindfulness and its relevance to change and development in Bhutan and beyond. We invite contributions from scholars, spiritual practitioners, philosophers, and cultural commentators to reflect on the meaning, practice, and modern adaptations of mindfulness.

Potential contributors might consider exploring questions such as:

  • How do traditional cultures embody mindfulness principles in daily life?
  • What distinguishes ‘mindful’ governance, urban planning and social policy?
  • What does authentic mindfulness mean in today’s Bhutanese context? What role should mindfulness play in Bhutan’s education system and economic development?
  • What distinguishes Bhutan’s approach to mindfulness from commercialised adaptations seen elsewhere? ·
  • How might the Gelephu Mindfulness City embody these principles in concrete, practical ways?
  • What role should mindfulness play in addressing contemporary challenges in education, healthcare, and environmental stewardship?
  • How can mindfulness, rather than being an individual practice, be made relevant to society as a whole?

Contributions may take the form of academic articles, reflective essays, or personal narratives that illuminate mindfulness as it is lived and practiced.

Please indicate your interest in contributing to this edition that targets The Druk Journal’s Bhutanese and global readership. As with previous editions, we will host conversations on this theme to promote wider dialogue, questioning and understanding mindfulness in the 21st century.

Timeline

We call for contributions to the next issue of The Druk Journal on the theme of Mindfulness.

  1. Synopsis: Submit by second week of June 2025 – Submit your concept or synopsis (one or two paragraphs) to the editor, which will be reviewed, and sent back to the writer with feedback.
  2. First Draft: Submit by second week of July 2025. Start writing the first draft after receiving the synopsis review. Early drafts will have the advantage of more detailed comments. The editor reviews the first draft and sends it back to the writer for further improvement.
  3. Final Draft: Submit by first week of September 2025. The writer finalises the article with necessary editorial inputs and changes and submits it to the editor for final editing by mid of September 2025.
  4. Word Limit: 1,000-3,000 words (For research articles can go up to 4,500 words)
  5. Font: Adobe Caslon Pro

Note: Refer to our style guide thoroughly before writing to orient with the writing style of The Druk Journal.

Style Guide

The Druk Journal (TDJ) Style Guide

1. The structure of the journal

  •  The Theme: Each issue of TDJ will carry a theme that is contemporary, relevant, and important for Bhutan and Bhutanese society. It will be a journal of analytical, thought-provoking articles (between 1,500 and 3,000 words) looking at the theme from different perspectives. The length of research articles can be longer and determined in consultation with the editor.
  • Each issue will contain a mix of approaches to the theme: a section of serious articles on the theme; articles looking at similar issues in other countries; interviews and book reviews on the theme.

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