Interweaving Spiritual Wisdom: Brahma Kumaris, Newton, Aurobindo, Meher Baba, Hawkins, Buddhism, and Taoism
The Nature of the Soul and the Divine Self At
The World Happiness Foundation (WHF) stands united in the global movement to ensure affordable and clean energy for all – the essence of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). Guided by our core ethos of abundance, interdependence, and shared well-being, we believe it is time to fundamentally reimagine how we approach energy access and sustainability. This manifesto lays out our vision: a world where no one lives in the dark, achieved not through zero-sum competition over resources, but through an abundance mindset, systemic compassion, and holistic well-being. Rooted in principles of non-violence, fundamental peace, and rising consciousness, we call for collaborative action by all stakeholders – from policymakers and UN partners to indigenous leaders, grassroots innovators, and global citizens. In alignment with the United Nations and countless community champions, WHF is working to realize “10 billion free, conscious and happy people by 2050,” a bold goal demanding unprecedented cooperation across sectors. Achieving universal access to clean energy is not only a technical or economic objective; it is foundational to our shared mission of global happiness, social justice, and planetary flourishing. When every community can plug into the power of the sun, wind, and modern technology, we illuminate the path toward a more peaceful, prosperous, and joyful world.
For decades, energy debates have been framed by a scarcity mindset – the notion that resources are finite, expensive, and must be competed for. Traditional approaches focus on shortages: “energy poverty,” fossil fuel deficits, and the struggle to “combat” climate change. While these realities are serious, a sole focus on what is lacking can inadvertently reinforce fear, competition, and short-term, zero-sum thinking. History is rife with conflicts over oil and gas, and communities often feel they must fight for their share of power. But humanity now stands on a planet awash in potential energy. Every hour, the sun beams more energy onto the Earth than all of humanity uses in an entire year – in fact, about 173,000 terawatts of solar power continuously strike the Earth, over 10,000 times the world’s total energy use. Vast winds, flowing rivers, and geothermal heat offer additional bounty. Our challenge is no longer the absolute absence of energy, but our mindset and systems for harnessing it.
The World Happiness Foundation proposes an abundance mindset to flip the narrative on energy access. This perspective replaces fear with trust and recognizes that one community’s gain in energy does not come at another’s loss – when others are empowered, we all succeed. In an abundance paradigm, providing electricity to a remote village does not diminish power for cities; on the contrary, it uplifts education, health, and opportunity for all, creating a more stable and creative world. Investing in renewable energy for the poorest areas is viewed not as charity, but as common sense – lifting up the most marginalized creates more prosperity for everyone. As WHF founder Luis Gallardo succinctly puts it, “A scarcity mindset creates limitations, whereas an abundance mindset allows us to think big and set bold goals.” Embracing this outlook means shifting from a mindset of competition over fuel to one of collaboration for shared power. It encourages long-term solutions over quick fixes: we build microgrids and train local solar engineers, rather than assuming some must remain energy-poor. It focuses not only on what we want to eliminate (blackouts, pollution, carbon emissions), but on what we want to build – resilient infrastructure, energy equity, and a world where everyone can shine. We now know that humanity stands on a bountiful Earth with energy to spare; by awakening to this truth, we can fundamentally change the game from one of energy scarcity to one of energy abundance and interdependence.
Achieving SDG 7’s vision of universal clean energy requires more than new technology – it demands a paradigm shift in how we define progress and prosperity. Happytalism is the World Happiness Foundation’s proposed framework to guide this shift from scarcity to abundance in all global goals, including energy. At its heart, Happytalism reframes development itself: rather than measuring success purely by GDP, megawatts produced, or profits, it measures it by the well-being, freedom, and happiness of people and planet. It asks a simple but profound question of every energy policy and project: Does this increase freedom, consciousness, and happiness for all? If not, it falls short as a solution. Under Happytalism, the ultimate goal is Fundamental Peace, envisioned as a triad of freedom, consciousness, and happiness. In practical terms for energy, this means a world where no one is left in the cold or dark, where everyone has the liberty and awareness to pursue their purpose, and where societies judge energy systems by how they enhance the quality of life for all members.
Notably, this paradigm aligns with the UN goals but also expands beyond them – it encourages us not just to provide a minimum of energy as a commodity, but to foster “Renewable Energy Abundance” as a positive force in people’s lives. In the Happytalist reimagining of SDG 7, our aim is to harness abundant renewable energy (sun, wind, water) to power human progress, innovating for clean energy access in every community, freeing us from fossil-fuel scarcity and enabling a thriving planet with energy equity. This represents a move from solving a deficit (energy poverty) to creating a lasting positive: a world where everyone thrives with ample clean power. For example, rather than simply counting how many homes get electricity, we envision energy systems that actively increase people’s happiness – solar panels that power schools and clinics, community-owned wind farms that generate income and pride, clean cooking stoves that save lives and time. Happytalism urges that every initiative be human-centered: a solar mini-grid in a village is not just a kilowatt-hour project, but a catalyst for education, entrepreneurship, and connectivity. By focusing on well-being, we ensure that the energy transition doesn’t become solely an engineering or financial feat, but a social transformation that liberates people from drudgery (like hauling firewood for hours) and ignites their potential. In essence, Happytalism invites us to redesign our energy systems and economies to put people’s happiness and planetary health at the center. Energy is not an end in itself, but a means to human flourishing and Fundamental Peace. By adopting this new paradigm globally, humanity can redirect its vast innovation and resources toward uplifting the human condition – ensuring that no one is left behind or left offline in our pursuit of joy, freedom, and sustainability.
Lack of access to energy is not merely an inconvenience – it is a form of structural violence and injustice that robs millions of health, education, and opportunity. WHF recognizes that energy poverty, like extreme poverty itself, keeps people in fear and want, and thus represents a serious barrier to human happiness and peace. In a world of plenty, when a child cannot read at night or a clinic cannot refrigerate vaccines due to power outages, it is a failure of justice by society’s structure. Today, about 666 million people still live without electricity – often literally in the dark – and progress remains too slow to reach universal access by 2030. Even as global electrification climbed to 92% by 2023, the vast majority of those still without power (about 85%) live in rural sub-Saharan Africa. This stark inequality has barely improved in a decade, leaving entire regions behind. The consequences are profound: most people lacking electricity reside in remote or conflict-affected areas where extending the traditional grid is difficult. Without power, children struggle to study after sunset, businesses cannot grow, and healthcare facilities cannot function reliably. Women and girls disproportionately suffer – in communities without modern energy, they spend up to 40 hours a week gathering firewood and cooking on open fires, time stolen from education or paid work. The reliance on polluting fuels for cooking isn’t just inefficient; it’s deadly. Up to 2.3 billion people still cook by burning wood, charcoal, or dung, exposing their families to toxic smoke. As a result, an estimated 3.2 million people die prematurely each year from illnesses caused by household air pollution – mainly women and young children inhaling smoke in enclosed huts. This silent tragedy is entirely preventable. There can be no true happiness or peace while billions are denied such a basic foundation of well-being as clean light, safe warmth, and the ability to cook a meal without risking death.
From our Happytalist perspective, energy access is a human right and a catalyst for human happiness. Research confirms what common sense tells us: when a community gains reliable electricity, quality of life improves and subjective well-being rises. In one study, rural villages in Suriname that received electricity reported a ~10% higher life satisfaction compared to those without, with both women and men benefiting equally. Global evidence echoes this – as scholars Lee et al. (2020) conclude, electricity access directly increases subjective well-being. Why? Because modern energy unlocks human potential. With power, a family can turn on a light to read, charge a phone to connect to the world, pump clean water, preserve food and medicine, and use tools that increase their income. Communities with sustainable energy see improved health (through refrigerated vaccines and reduced indoor smoke), better education outcomes, and new opportunities for women’s empowerment and youth engagement. They become safer, as street lighting reduces violence. They become more inclusive, as information and services reach everyone. In short, clean energy access is foundational to nearly every aspect of human development and happiness. The UN themselves note that achieving SDG 7 would profoundly improve people’s health, protect them from environmental risks, and expand access to services from education to finance. Conversely, leaving entire populations energy-poor in an energy-rich world perpetuates inequality and frustration – a recipe for conflict, not peace. We therefore view the closing of the energy access gap as an act of peacemaking and human dignity. When we light up a village, we also illuminate a path to literacy, economic opportunity, gender equality, and fundamental well-being. To ensure planetary flourishing, this energy must be clean; but to ensure human flourishing, it must be accessible. Happytalism teaches that true prosperity means no one is left behind or left in the dark. Energy justice – making sure everyone can benefit from modern sustainable energy – is thus both a moral imperative and a prerequisite for a happier, more peaceful global family.
Encouragingly, the world is witnessing remarkable trends that prove an abundance approach is not naive optimism but emerging reality. Renewable energy technologies have advanced at breathtaking speed, offering hope that we can leapfrog from scarcity to abundance for all. In the last decade, the cost of solar and wind power plummeted, and deployment skyrocketed. Renewables generated a record 30% of global electricity in 2023, up from 26% just a few years prior – the highest share in history. Solar and wind are being built at record rates worldwide, and 2023 likely marked a pivotal turning point: the point of peak emissions in the power sector, as clean sources begin to overtake fossil fuels. This transition is not only due to environmental concern; it’s driven by economics and innovation. Solar energy is now often the cheapest source of new electricity in many countries, demonstrating what the IEA calls “remarkable resilience” even amid global crises. In essence, technology is finally aligning with nature’s abundance – we can capture energy more efficiently and cheaply than ever before.
Crucially, this clean energy boom can be a great equalizer if we ensure its benefits reach the underserved. The number of people gaining access to electricity each year has rebounded after pandemic-era setbacks. In 2023, for the first time, new electricity connections outpaced population growth, nudging global access to 92%. More than a billion people have gained electric power since 2010. Central and southern Asia, for instance, have made massive strides, shrinking their access deficit from 414 million people in 2010 to just 27 million today. These successes highlight what’s possible with political will and investment. Yet they also throw into sharp relief the areas still lagging – notably sub-Saharan Africa, where population growth is outpacing electrification. In 2023, 35 million Africans received electricity for the first time, yet the net number of people without power in Africa fell by only 5 million because so many new children were born into darkness. Africa’s share of the world’s un-electrified population has soared to 85% (from 50% in 2010) as other regions close their gaps. This is unacceptable in an abundant world. It tells us where we, as a global community, must focus our efforts in the coming years.
The good news is that innovative solutions are emerging to reach those hardest to reach. Traditional grid expansion is often too slow or costly for remote villages, conflict zones, and island communities. Here, human ingenuity and entrepreneurship have stepped up. Decentralized renewable energy (DRE) – such as solar home systems, rooftop panels, and community mini-grids – is transforming the landscape of access. In fact, these off-grid and micro-grid solutions provided 55% of all new electricity connections in sub-Saharan Africa from 2020 to 2022. They are flexible, rapidly deployable, and can be tailored to local needs. Globally, DRE systems benefited over 560 million people in 2023 alone, bringing power to places the main grid still doesn’t reach. Solar lamps and home battery kits have already allowed millions of families to replace dim kerosene lamps with bright, clean light. Solar water pumps are helping farmers irrigate fields and improve food security. In health care, innovations like solar-powered clinics and vaccine refrigerators are saving lives.
Solar panels installed at a rural health clinic in Masisea, Peru, now provide uninterrupted electricity to remote indigenous communities in the Amazon. This reliable 24/7 power has transformed healthcare for 12,800 people – enabling nighttime deliveries, refrigeration of medicines, and powered medical equipment in areas once reliant on diesel generators. For the first time in living memory, residents can see electric light all through the night, a change that has directly improved daily life and well-being.
Stories like the one unfolding in Peru’s Amazon are a beacon of what’s possible when technology, investment, and local leadership converge. They illustrate how clean energy innovation can fuel not just devices, but human development. Moreover, these solutions often come from the communities themselves. Around the world, underserved populations are not waiting passively for aid – they are spearheading their own energy futures. Affordable solar kits, pay-as-you-go financing, and entrepreneurial training have enabled many villagers to become prosumers (producers-consumers) of energy, creating jobs and fostering pride. In Kenya, women are trained as solar engineers to electrify their own villages. In Bangladesh, small solar home systems have lit up millions of rural households, proving that off-grid renewables can scale dramatically. These bottom-up successes underscore an abundance philosophy: we already have or can create the means to power every community. The limiting factor is not technology or even funding (the world has plenty of capital); it is the consciousness to deploy resources where they are needed most. Indeed, one of the concerning trends is that while private investment in renewables is booming globally, international public financing for clean energy in developing countries has actually been falling in recent years. In 2021, international public finance for clean energy access stood at just $10.8 billion, a 35% drop from the average a decade earlier and barely 40% of its 2017 peak. This decline is alarming and points to a mismatch of priorities. To meet SDG 7 targets and ensure everyone benefits from the clean energy revolution, we must structurally reform financing and unlock far greater investment, especially for low-income countries and marginalized groups. The IEA estimates that off-grid solutions alone will require around $95 billion in investment this decade to scale up, far above the current levels (about $1.2 billion invested in off-grid solar in 2022-23). Bridging this gap is imminently achievable if we treat it not as charity but as a generational investment in our collective future. We have the tools, from solar panels to efficient cookstoves, and we have more than enough money in the world; what’s needed is the will to direct our innovation and capital toward inclusion. In Happytalist terms, it means seeing those without energy not as markets to exploit or problems to fix, but as partners and equals in co-creating a brighter world.
Finally, it’s important to stress that transitioning to clean energy is a win-win for human and planetary well-being. We do not accept that any nation or community must choose between development and sustainability. By embracing renewable abundance, we avoid the toxic pollution that has plagued the fossil-fuel era and mitigate climate change – which itself threatens happiness and prosperity everywhere. Clean energy is essential for what WHF calls planetary flourishing. We envision a future where our energy systems regenerate ecosystems, help stabilize the climate, and protect our shared home for future generations. Rather than a desperate “fight” against climate change, we see the transition to green energy as a joyful opportunity to heal the planet while uplifting people. Each solar panel, each wind turbine is a symbol of hope – a step away from scarcity and conflict, and a step toward harmony and sufficiency. With abundant clean energy, we can power our modern lives without draining the life of our Earth. Happytalism holds that humanity’s progress need not come at nature’s expense; with awakened stewardship, our technological advances can actually restore and sustain the environment. The energy transition, done right, is thus a cornerstone of a larger shift toward a well-being civilization – one where people and planet thrive together.
A core tenet of the abundance mindset is that solutions must be inclusive and locally empowering. We emphasize that the transition to clean energy must happen with communities, not to them. Around the world, indigenous and marginalized communities, often the most energy-poor, are emerging as powerful agents of change when given the opportunity and respect. We honor the truth that since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have been conscious stewards of the land, maintaining a balance between human needs and environmental preservation. This wisdom is invaluable in shaping a sustainable future. Today, as the world seeks urgent clean energy solutions, indigenous communities are reasserting themselves as natural leaders in the transition to renewables, blending traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technology. They remind us that renewable energy is not just about engineering, but about our relationship with nature and each other.
Energy sovereignty – the right of communities to control their energy resources and destiny – is a crucial principle. When a village or tribe can decide how to generate and use power, they can ensure it aligns with their cultural values and needs. For example, First Nations and tribal groups in places like Canada, the United States, and New Zealand are developing their own solar farms, wind projects, and micro-hydro systems. These projects create local jobs, reduce energy costs, and often feed surplus power into the grid for income. They also reinforce cultural autonomy: communities can power language schools, cultural centers, and ceremonies with clean energy, reinforcing identity and pride. But it’s not easy – indigenous clean energy leaders still face hurdles like limited access to capital, exclusion from decision-making, and the legacy of historical injustices. Overcoming these requires deliberate inclusion and partnership. The world must recognize that empowering local and indigenous leadership in clean energy is not optional; it’s essential for a just and lasting transition.
We have already seen how decentralized solutions can reach remote areas; now we must ensure those solutions are community-led. A solar mini-grid succeeds best when locals are trained to maintain it, when women are included in planning (since they are primary energy users in households), and when the financing models consider the realities of the poor (like micro-loans or pay-as-you-go). WHF’s abundance philosophy emphasizes co-creation: the people who face energy challenges are also holders of solutions, and their participation and wisdom are key to durable success. We champion initiatives that involve communities at every step – from design to deployment to governance. In practical terms, this might mean supporting cooperatives where villagers jointly own renewable installations, or programs where youth are educated as clean energy technicians and entrepreneurs. It means respecting indigenous land rights when planning large projects (no dams or mines imposed without consent). And it means valuing the happiness and social cohesion that comes when communities build their future together.
When local communities are the drivers, clean energy access can have multiplier effects. We see rural women trained in India’s Barefoot College solar program becoming solar engineers and leaders, inspiring other women and girls. We see African youth installing pay-as-you-go solar kits and gaining not just income but status as “light-bringers” for their neighbors. We see partnerships where NGOs, governments, and businesses provide tools and training, but then step back as communities take charge. These approaches create a sense of ownership and pride that no externally imposed project can match. They turn beneficiaries into protagonists, which is exactly the shift in consciousness Happytalism seeks – from passive scarcity thinking (“we have nothing, we need help”) to active abundance thinking (“we have strengths and allies, we can create our own solutions”).
In the stories of indigenous and community-led energy, we find not only practical models but also spiritual guidance for the global transition. These leaders teach us to remember our interconnectedness: the sun that feeds one village feeds us all; the wind that blows through tribal lands blows for all humanity. By honoring diverse perspectives and local ingenuity, we enrich the tapestry of solutions and ensure no one is left behind. The World Happiness Foundation commits to amplifying these voices and best practices. Through our global forums and networks, we will continue highlighting how an Amazonian village clinic lit by solar panels or a First Nations wind project in Canada is as important to SDG 7 as any high-level policy. They are living proof that an abundant energy future is already being born at the grassroots.
This is a universal call – an invitation and a challenge to all of humanity. Achieving SDG 7 in the spirit of Happytalism will require all hands on deck, from the halls of power to the most remote hamlets. We call on policymakers and governments to reshape agendas and budgets around well-being and sustainability – to enact bold policies that guarantee access to modern energy for every citizen, from the largest city to the smallest island. Redirect subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables and energy access programs; implement regulations that incentivize utilities to serve the poor and invest in green grids. We urge United Nations agencies and international development partners to integrate the happiness and abundance mindset into their strategies – coordinate efforts to share technology and financing so that no region or indigenous community is left behind. It’s time to massively scale initiatives like the World Bank and African Development Bank’s “Mission 300” (which aims to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030) and ensure they succeed. We appeal to the private sector and investors to recognize the tremendous opportunity in a clean energy revolution that includes the 800 million+ people still lacking reliable power. By investing in off-grid renewables, clean cooking solutions, and energy-efficient appliances for emerging markets, businesses can spur economic growth and open new markets, all while lifting human well-being. We call on companies to practice “energy justice” – pricing products affordably, transferring knowledge, and putting people over short-term profit.
We encourage grassroots organizations, civil society, and community leaders to continue innovating on the ground, to lift up marginalized voices, and to hold all of us accountable to real needs. Your local experiments and successes are the seeds of global change – whether it’s a youth group installing biogas digesters in Kenya, or a rural cooperative running a micro-hydro plant in Nepal, or an indigenous coalition fighting for solar infrastructure – these efforts matter immensely. Share your knowledge, build alliances (a solution in one place can spark hope everywhere), and insist that development truly reach the last mile. And to global citizens – individuals and families in every nation – we say: you are powerful agents of change. By cultivating an abundance mindset in your own life, you help turn the tide. Celebrate and support clean energy in your community: adopt solar if you can, advocate for green choices at work and school, reduce wasteful consumption of energy, and raise your voice for policies that ensure everyone can access sustainable power. Simple actions, like using efficient appliances or carpooling, coupled with civic actions, like voting for climate and equity-focused leaders, all contribute to the bigger picture. Crucially, spread the narrative of abundance – counter despair with optimism grounded in possibility. When you hear someone say “there isn’t enough for everyone,” remind them that the sun shines on us all and that human creativity is limitless when driven by love rather than fear.
The World Happiness Foundation commits to action as well. We will continue to serve as a convener and catalyst in this movement for abundant energy and well-being. Through our global events, policy forums, and campaigns like #TenBillionHappy, we will tirelessly advocate that energy access and happiness be recognized as twin goals. We will expand our education and leadership programs that empower others to become “Rousers” – conscious catalysts of well-being – in their own communities, spreading awareness of energy solutions and the abundance mindset. We will support the growth of multi-stakeholder alliances, bringing together governments, businesses, indigenous groups, and NGOs to collaborate on innovative models (for example, public-private partnerships for community solar, or micro-finance initiatives for clean cooking). And we will share success stories far and wide – because nothing inspires action more than seeing that it can be done. By highlighting villages, clinics, and schools transformed by clean energy, we hope to ignite imaginations and convince doubters that a brighter future is within our grasp.
Today, we stand at a pivotal moment in history. The goal of sustainable energy for all is within reach for the first time – not through competition over scarce fuel, but through co-creation of abundance. Let us all, across continents and cultures, unite in this common cause. Together, guided by the principles of Happytalism, we can ignite a new era in which the 8 billion people on Earth (and the generations to come) are free from energy poverty, free from pollution, and empowered to live with purpose and joy. Let us ensure that SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy – is not just achieved as a checkbox, but exceeded in spirit by a world that cherishes powered, connected, and flourishing communities. With abundance in our hearts and action on our minds, we affirm our commitment to a future where everyone can shine. The journey from scarcity to abundance begins with each of us, and it begins today. We invite all stakeholders – from the biggest nations to the smallest communities, and every caring soul in between – to join us in making this vision real.
A world of energy abundance, a world of Happytalism, a world where clean power fuels happy lives and a thriving planet, is within our grasp – and together, we will achieve it.
Sources:
Vote Solar (2024).Indigenous Leadership in Clean Energy. Highlights how indigenous communities are blending traditional stewardship with clean tech innovation. “Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have been conscious stewards of the land… Now… Indigenous communities are reasserting themselves as natural leaders in the transition to renewable resources.” Emphasizes the concept of energy sovereignty and the success of Native-led initiatives in the clean energy revolution. https://votesolar.org/indigenous-leadership-in-clean-energy-honoring-tradition-powering-the-future/#:~:text=Since%20time%20immemorial%2C%20Indigenous%20peoples,reasserting%20themselves%20as%20natural%20leaders
The Nature of the Soul and the Divine Self At
After lighting up Buenos Aires with the World Happiness Fest
Executive Summary The Doha Political Declaration adopted at the 2025