Last weekend I attended the First European Conference on Happiness and it's Causes. It was very interesting, a series of lectures and discussion panels from psychologists, psychotherapists and so on. These included Richard Layard: 'the happiness tsar', Dorothy Rowe: celebrated psychotherapist and a representative from The New Economic Foundation a left wing think tank who are involved with the Kingdom of Bhutan's project to measure 'gross national happiness'.

A fantastic weekend, stimulating and informative. One thing really struck me: it was a very intense weekend, the speakers and audience alike were passionately compassionate. so much so that it was almost exhausting. The buddhist monks in the saffron robes on the other had carried their world view so very lightly. Whilst being down to earth, charming and also passionate, they lacked the draining intensity of many of the speakers. I considered this an interesting paradox. The delegates desired to be heard; whereas the monks, even though they were the ones who did not need to be told 'what it happiness' they had a clear point of view, had no such need. I found this at odds with a life of rigorous asceticism. There is no reason for this other than my very own prejudice.

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