Interweaving Spiritual Wisdom: Brahma Kumaris, Newton, Aurobindo, Meher Baba, Hawkins, Buddhism, and Taoism
The Nature of the Soul and the Divine Self At
Clean water and adequate sanitation (UN Sustainable Development Goal 6) are the bedrock of a healthy, dignified life – water is life, and its absence is misery. Over the past few decades, we have seen important progress: between 2000 and 2022, over 2.1 billion people gained access to safely managed drinking water, and millions more now enjoy basic toilets. Yet the challenge remains vast and urgent. As of 2022, 2.2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water and 3.5 billion lack safely managed sanitationsdgs.un.orgsdgs.un.org. This shortfall is not just a technical issue – it is a human crisis that strikes at the core of well-being and sustainable development. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene cause an estimated 1 million deaths each year, including about 500,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases alone. Every day, women and girls collectively spend 200 million hours fetching water, a colossal waste of potential that robs them of education and economic opportunity. The world is off-track to meet SDG 6 by 2030, with none of the Goal 6 targets currently on pace. This is unacceptable – water and sanitation are fundamental human rights, explicitly recognized by the UN General Assembly in 2010, and they are foundational to what the World Happiness Foundation (WHF) envisions as a happier, more abundant world.
The WHF views SDG 6 not merely as an infrastructure goal, but as a pillar of sustainable happiness and social justice. In our paradigm of “Happytalism,” a society’s success is measured by the well-being and happiness of all its members – and it is impossible to imagine well-being in a world where children die from dirty water, where mothers walk for hours to fill a bucket, or where lack of a toilet deprives someone of privacy and dignity. Access to clean water and sanitation uplifts every dimension of life: it improves health, expands education, empowers women, boosts livelihoods, and protects the environment. Conversely, water insecurity and poor sanitation perpetuate a vicious cycle of disease, poverty, and inequality. For these reasons, the World Happiness Foundation affirms that clean water and safe sanitation are non-negotiable essentials of a life worth living – a birthright of every person. Achieving SDG 6 is about more than pipes and pumps; it is about realizing a world where every individual can enjoy the basic freedom from fear and want that comes with a safe, hygienic environment. Water and sanitation for all is thus a cornerstone of what we call “Fundamental Peace” – a state in which everyone is free from basic insecurities and able to live with dignity, health, and joy. In this spirit, WHF approaches SDG 6 with an abundance mindset, determined to help create a future where Water & Wellness for All is a reality, not just an aspiration.
SDG 6 – “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” – has traditionally been viewed in terms of infrastructure and public services. The World Happiness Foundation embraces and expands this mandate by reframing SDG 6 as “Water & Wellness for All,” emphasizing that clean water and sanitation are fundamental rights and keys to well-being. In our holistic vision, water and sanitation are not merely technical issues for engineers; they are human and community issues that touch on health, happiness, and empowerment. Every drop of clean water and every safe toilet contributes to what we consider “sustainable happiness” – the idea that true progress is measured by improvements in quality of life. Thus, we champion an approach to SDG 6 that puts people and planet at the center: treating safe water as essential to physical and mental health, and treating sanitation as essential to human dignity and social development.
Achieving “Water & Wellness for All” means ensuring every person can drink water, bathe, and wash with confidence that they will not get sick, and can use a toilet in privacy and safety. It means integrating water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) with broader well-being initiatives. For example, schools and workplaces should have not only taps and toilets but also hygiene education and menstrual health support – recognizing that something as natural as menstruation must not be a barrier to a girl’s education or self-esteem. Hospitals and clinics must themselves have clean water and sanitation, so that they heal rather than infect patients. Communities should be engaged and empowered to manage local water resources sustainably, taking ownership of solutions. Holistic water and sanitation also implies looking at the entire water cycle and our relationship with nature: protecting the ecosystems (rivers, aquifers, forests, and wetlands) that naturally clean and regulate water, and ensuring that development does not come at the expense of the environment. In our Happytalist perspective, pure water, hygienic living conditions, and a healthy environment are viewed as foundational components of well-being – as important to happiness as education or income. We therefore advocate measuring success not just in kilometers of pipes laid or number of wells dug, but in lives improved – for instance, the reduction in waterborne diseases, the hours of time saved for women and children, the increase in school attendance, and the greater sense of security and dignity in each community. By treating water and sanitation as public goods and core elements of social well-being, we call for policies that prioritize universal access, quality, and affordability. In practice, this means pushing for stronger legal frameworks that uphold the human right to water and sanitation, pro-poor financing that ensures even the most marginalized can get services, and innovative approaches (from rainwater harvesting to cutting-edge filtration) that leave no one behind. Our holistic vision insists that we leave no one “untouched” by clean water – whether they live in a remote village, an urban slum, or a refugee camp. Clean water and toilets must become as ubiquitous as the air we breathe – taken for granted as part of everyday life, available to all.
Crucially, “Water & Wellness for All” requires seeing SDG 6 as intertwined with all other SDGs and with the broader pursuit of happiness and freedom. Luis Gallardo, our founder, often notes that true abundance in society begins with meeting basic needs: when people no longer worry about the next drink of water or a safe place to relieve themselves, they are free to pursue higher goals and aspirations. In line with this, the WHF’s position is that investing in water and sanitation yields a profound “happiness dividend.” It not only prevents suffering, but actively creates conditions for people to thrive. Imagine communities where children are no longer sick from dirty water, where girls can study instead of hauling buckets, where rivers run clean through towns, and where families have peace of mind about their most essential needs – these are communities where happiness can take root and blossom. To get there, we must mobilize all sectors of society: governments to strengthen infrastructure and governance; businesses to innovate affordable WASH solutions; civil society to advocate and educate; and individuals to conserve and respect water. We emphasize solutions that are sustainable, inclusive, and nature-based – for instance, using green infrastructure like wetlands to filter water, or community-led total sanitation programs that change social norms around hygiene. The World Happiness Foundation calls on all stakeholders to treat water and sanitation not as charitable handouts or technical afterthoughts, but as cornerstones of public policy and human development. By embracing this holistic vision of SDG 6, we aim to create a world where every person can enjoy pure water, hygienic living conditions, and the dignity of a healthy environment, as a basic guarantee of society. In sum, water is life, sanitation is dignity – and together they form a foundation for happiness that must be secured for everyone, everywhere.
Water and sanitation are so fundamental that progress in SDG 6 sends positive ripples through virtually every other Sustainable Development Goal – and conversely, failures in water access undermine our efforts across the board. The fates of all SDGs are deeply interconnected, much like the water cycle itself. The World Happiness Foundation emphasizes a systems perspective: investing in water and sanitation is one of the smartest, most multipurpose investments society can make. It creates co-benefits in health, hunger, education, gender equality, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and peace. As the UN 2030 Agenda stresses, the SDGs are “integrated and indivisible,” and water lies at the heart of this integration. Below are just a few examples of how SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) links with other global goals:
(Many other SDGs have strong links with water and sanitation – from Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), where urban planning must provide WASH services to all residents, to Life on Land and Below Water (SDGs 15 and 14), since terrestrial and marine ecosystems depend on unpolluted water. Industry and innovation (SDG 9) also play a role: new technologies in water purification, irrigation, and recycling can vastly improve efficiency and access. And of course, global partnership (SDG 17) is needed, as many water resources cross borders, requiring cooperation. Understanding these interdependencies, the World Happiness Foundation advocates for integrated solutions: approaching water, health, food, energy, and climate challenges together, not in silos. By advancing SDG 6, we inherently advance many other goals – because water flows through every aspect of sustainable development.)
Achieving SDG 6 will require more than pumps, pipes, and latrines – it calls for a profound mindset shift in how we view water and sanitation. For too long, the world’s approach to water has been dominated by a scarcity mindset: a narrative of lack, competition, and zero-sum thinking. We speak of “water wars,” rationing, and deficits. Communities and nations often fear that there isn’t enough clean water to go around, leading to conflicts over rivers and groundwater or a sense of helplessness in the face of growing demand. While water is a finite resource in many locales, the scarcity mindset can blind us to creative solutions and cooperation, trapping us in conflict and pessimism. Happytalism, the paradigm championed by the World Happiness Foundation, proposes flipping this narrative to an abundance mindset. This does not mean denying the very real water stress in many regions; rather, it means recognizing that through human innovation, solidarity, and respect for nature, we can create water abundance even in places that once seemed water-starved. As Luis Gallardo argues, one community’s flourishing need not come at the expense of another’s – water is a shared resource that can unite rather than divide us. An abundance mindset asks: What if we approach water as a cycle to be managed wisely, not a commodity to fight over? What if every drop can be used, reused, and shared for the benefit of all?
In practical terms, moving from scarcity to abundance in water means shifting our focus to long-term, collaborative solutions and viewing every water challenge as an opportunity for innovation. For example, many cities historically struggled with water shortages, but through fresh thinking they have achieved water security even in dry climates. Israel, once water-scarce, is now a net water exporter thanks to massive investment in technology and recycling – it treats nearly 90% of its wastewater for reuse (mostly in agriculture), the highest rate in the world. This transformation shows that a country can turn scarcity into surplus by embracing innovation and refusing the notion that “some must go without.” Similarly, nature offers abundant solutions if we embrace them: nature-based approaches can amplify our water resources instead of depleting them. Restoring forests and wetlands in a watershed can increase groundwater recharge and keep water clean, effectively “creating” more usable water. Constructed wetlands and green infrastructure can supplement or even replace expensive treatment plants, providing clean water in harmony with ecosystems. In New York City’s famed example, the city avoided a multi-billion dollar filtration plant by investing in protecting its Catskills watershed – a solution that leveraged nature’s abundance to secure clean water. From rainwater harvesting in India’s villages to fog-catching nets in mountainous Peru, communities around the world are finding that water abundance can be achieved by capturing resources that were previously wasted (like rain and mist), by recycling water that was previously discarded, and by reducing demand through efficiency.
An abundance mindset also means sharing knowledge, technology, and best practices globally. In a scarcity paradigm, wealthy or water-rich areas might hoard innovations, or companies might see water solutions as proprietary competitive advantages. Happytalism urges us instead to see water as a common good where open collaboration benefits everyone. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed unprecedented sharing of scientific knowledge for a global cause; we need a similar ethos for the water crisis. Today, we have the know-how to desalinate seawater, to purify virtually any polluted water, and to deliver water affordably to remote communities. These should not remain privileged technologies – through partnerships and creative financing, they can be scaled to all regions in need. One example is the increasing affordability of solar-powered desalination and filtration units, which can provide villages with safe drinking water using only sunlight. Another example is the dissemination of low-cost innovations like ceramic water filters, chemical-free sanitation systems, or smart irrigation sensors for farmers. The WHF advocates that when one community develops a successful water solution, it should be celebrated and replicated, not kept in isolation. *In an abundance approach, we cheer “water for all” victories anywhere because they can inspire water for all everywhere. We replace fear with trust: trust that helping others secure water poses no threat to one’s own supply – in fact, it likely enhances regional stability and shared prosperity.
Importantly, Happytalism reframes SDG 6’s targets in positive, opportunity-focused terms. Instead of merely lamenting how many people lack water or lack toilets, we choose to emphasize how many millions of people we can empower by providing these services. We envision not just the absence of waterborne disease, but the presence of water-enabled prosperity – imagine thriving farms in arid lands thanks to drip irrigation, or bustling markets in communities where sanitation improvements have spurred new employment (as plumbers, masons, health workers). Rather than focusing on how many fewer children get sick, we measure how many more days of school attendance we gain, or how many young girls can pursue their dreams because they no longer spend their youth carrying water. This optimistic outlook doesn’t ignore the serious gaps we face; rather, it motivates us to unlock the plenty that is possible. It reminds us that globally, there is no absolute shortage of freshwater – the planet has a hydrological cycle producing trillions of cubic meters of rain each year, more than enough for humanity if managed wisely. The issue is our management, distribution, and mindset. By shifting to a mindset of plenty, we foster the compassion, creativity, and cooperation needed to solve the seemingly intractable problems. We see water not as a problem to fight over, but as an opportunity to unite: transboundary rivers, for instance, can be sources of collaboration and peace if countries share benefits (like coordinated dam operations, or agreements that allocate water in win-win ways). Notably, over 40% of the world’s population lives in river basins shared by multiple nationssdgs.un.org – cooperation is not just ideal, it’s essential. Embracing abundance means pushing for “water diplomacy” where nations treat water-sharing as a foundation for friendship (as seen in successful treaties like the 60-year Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan), rather than a trigger for conflict.
Ultimately, rethinking water and sanitation through an abundance lens leads us to innovative policies and business models: seeing universal water/sanitation access not as a cost but as an investment with high returns. Studies show that universal basic WASH could yield trillions in global economic benefits, including an estimated 1.5% increase in global GDP from avoided health costs and gained productivity. This is common sense: every time we bring clean water or a toilet to a community, we “create more for everyone” by reducing disease burden, improving worker productivity, and freeing women and girls to contribute in new ways. For instance, when a village installs a safe water point, women often start small businesses or other productive activities with the time saved; children study more; overall community income rises – a cascade of positive outcomes. Likewise, achieving open-defecation-free communities (through sanitation campaigns) has been shown to increase property values and community pride. Such benefits far outweigh the upfront costs. As Gallardo emphasizes, investing in water and sanitation is not charity, but enlightened self-interest and mutual gain – it paves the way for stable, flourishing societies where everyone’s talents can shine. Each well drilled, each toilet built is a step toward an abundant world: one where no human potential is wasted fetching water or battling preventable illness, but instead is channeled into creativity, learning, and productive endeavors. In summary, the World Happiness Foundation’s message is clear: the world has enough water, knowledge, and wealth to achieve Water & Wellness for All. By embracing trust over fear, cooperation over competition, and long-term wisdom over short-term thinking, we can transform water from a source of worry into a source of hope and abundance for every community.
The World Happiness Foundation’s vision for SDG 6 is profoundly hopeful and deeply humanistic. We see universal access to clean water and sanitation as foundational to what we call “Fundamental Peace.” Fundamental Peace is a state in which every person is free from fear and want, conscious of each other’s dignity, and able to live with joy. Achieving Water & Wellness for All is among the most concrete steps humanity can take toward that peace. When no mother fears that the water she gives her child might be fatal, when no girl has to worry about harassment for lack of a toilet, when no community fights over water use – then a huge source of human fear and conflict will be gone. In its place, we will have the freedom, trust, and solidarity that come from meeting a basic need together. The simple presence of clean water can transform life in ways outsiders might not immediately appreciate: it restores dignity to the elderly person who can use a bathroom safely, it gives peace of mind to the farmer who knows his crops won’t wither, it sparks joy when a tap flows in a village for the first time and children dance under the stream. These are foundational improvements that set the stage for greater societal harmony. Indeed, water cooperation can be a bridge to peace between groups and nations as well. History has many examples where shared rivers fostered dialogue even between adversaries – because water is so vital, it can encourage enemies to find common ground. In a water-abundant future shaped by Happytalist principles, we imagine nations sharing technology and helping one another through droughts as readily as they might come to each other’s aid in a disaster. Our north star is a world where a child’s birthplace does not determine their chance of having safe water, and where “water refugees” – people forced to flee due to water scarcity or collapse of services – are a thing of the past.
To realize this future, we call for all stakeholders to act with urgency, ambition, and compassion. Governments must treat SDG 6 targets as non-negotiable commitments, putting in place the financing and governance to achieve universal access – especially focusing on reaching rural villages, informal urban settlements, and marginalized groups who often lag behind. Internationally, high-income countries and development institutions should dramatically increase support for WASH in lower-income regions; every human should at least have a basic water source and toilet by 2030. We also urge a global acceleration of innovation: the world needs a surge of research and deployment of new solutions (from ultra-low-cost sanitation systems to solar desalination to IoT-based smart water management) to serve the hardest-to-reach populations and adapt to climate impacts. The recent UN 2023 Water Conference sounded the alarm that at current rates we may have to wait many decades past 2030 to see everyone with safe water/sanitation – this is not acceptable. We echo the UN’s call for a Water Action Agenda that rallies governments, NGOs, businesses, and communities to vastly speed up progress (with a 6x to 20x increase in current rates in some areas). The resources are available: for perspective, the annual economic losses from poor sanitation ($260 billion) far exceed what it would cost to build the needed infrastructure – meaning investing in SDG 6 pays for itself many times over. It is time to summon the political will and direct investment to where it’s needed most.
Equally, we must nurture the social and cultural dimensions of water & sanitation. This means education and awareness to encourage water conservation, hygiene practices, and a sense of shared responsibility. It means celebrating water as a precious source of life in our cultures and religions – many traditions already consider water sacred, a symbol of purity and renewal. Let that inspire a global ethic that wasting water or polluting water is morally unacceptable, and that providing clean water to others is a noble act of service. In the spirit of Happytalism, we invite communities to become “conscious catalysts” for water abundance – whether it’s youth groups monitoring water quality in their town, women’s cooperatives managing local toilets as social enterprises, or engineers volunteering their expertise to design solutions for villages. Happiness grows through purpose and contribution, and working to ensure everyone has water and sanitation is a purpose that can unite humanity across borders. There is a special joy and solidarity that comes from building a well for a neighbor or helping another community recover their water source – a joy that the WHF has witnessed in many grassroots projects worldwide. We encourage scaling up these efforts and connecting them in a global network of Water & Wellness champions.
Our position is clear: SDG 6 is achievable, and its achievement will be a milestone in human progress comparable to the eradication of a disease or the spread of democracy. A world with Water & Wellness for All will be a world with far less suffering and far more opportunity for every person to live a healthy, fulfilling life. It will be a world where development truly means liberation – liberation from the daily toil and fear that absence of WASH entails. We foresee vibrant communities where rivers run clean and children drink freely, where public fountains in cities symbolize trust in the water supply, where toilets are safe and available to all – even in the most remote areas – thanks to innovations we have yet to imagine. Achieving this will not only quench thirst and prevent disease, it will also quench a deeper thirst: the thirst for justice and equity. Few things are as inherently just as making sure everyone, rich or poor, has life’s most basic elements.
In conclusion, the World Happiness Foundation stands committed to Goal 6: Water & Wellness for All as a transformative pathway to human happiness. We believe that by treating clean water and sanitation as fundamental rights and investing in both high-tech and nature-based solutions, humanity can eradicate the age-old scourges of thirst and filth. In doing so, we will unleash tremendous social benefits – healthier and more peaceful societies, resilient economies, and children whose dreams are no longer stunted by water scarcity. A future of water abundance is within our grasp if we choose cooperation over competition and compassion over indifference. Let us imagine a future, say in 2030 or 2040, where we look back and wonder how it was ever possible that billions lacked these basics – just as today we look back in disbelief at past eras without modern sanitation. That future begins now, with all of us recognizing water and sanitation as the foundation of well-being and committing to action. By uniting around the ideal of Water & Wellness for All, we take a vital step toward a world of sustainable happiness – a world where Fundamental Peace is built, one safe drop and one clean toilet at a time.
Sources:
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