Rekhi Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness in Rajasthan: Inauguration cum session

On January 9, 2025, the IIS Rekhi Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness, in association with the Rekhi Foundation for Happiness, organized an insightful session at Vinayak Hall, IIS (Deemed to be) University. The event had the distinguished guest speaker, Professor Saamdu Chetri, who gave a deep discourse on the nature of happiness.

Dr. Saamdu Chetri, a renowned Happiness Guru and advocate for Gross National Happiness (GNH). As Director of the Yogananda School of Spirituality and Happiness, he has championed holistic well-being. With a PhD in Commerce, Dr. Chetri has contributed immensely to Bhutan's socio-economic development, including his role as Former Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office and helping establish the Gross National Happiness Centre.

Professor Chetri began his presentation by distinguishing two types of happiness, hedonic and eudaimonic. Hedonic happiness relates to the materialistic world that is only transient, superficial, and momentary pleasure. He tells the audience that true happiness has nothing to do with these, but rather an understanding of true happiness based on purpose and fulfillment.

In making his point, Professor Chetri cited the experiment of H. Bruce Lefton, who put different cell types in different conditions and eventually made various components of the body such as muscles, blood, and bones. Such an analogy could help him point out that the happiness of one is not predetermined by genetics, but rather determined by the individual's environment and choices.

Further enriching the discussion, Professor Chetri explored the meaning of the term BHAGWAAN, breaking it down into its components which are Bhoomi (Earth), Gagan (Sky), Vaayu (Air), Agni (Fire), and Neer (Water). By connecting these elements to the human body, he conveyed the message that every individual possesses an inherent divinity or potential for greatness within themselves.

As the session continued, Professor Chetri urged the participants to find the ultimate truth of existence by finding what they were passionate about. He stated that going into one's passion is not only satisfying personally but also matches expectations with what life will offer, hence allowing for the best happiness. He also discussed the four basic dimensions of human being: Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul, explaining how they are necessary and important for life.

The event culminated in a very interactive question-and-answer session where participants had the chance to clear their queries on happiness with Professor Chetri. He helped the audience differentiate between meditation and mindfulness as he explained their purpose and value in our lives.

Later Dr. Chetri headed to Ojas hall to inaugurate the Mind Lab where multiple items related to the field of psychology were displayed.

Outcome: The discussion concluded with a vote of thanks to Professor Chetri for his insightful and valuable contributions. This session was a major stride toward enlightening the minds of students and participants at IIS University to understand happiness and its system more deeply. It added weight to integrating mindful insights into everyday life for improving the quality of life as a whole.