India, Jan. 16 -- Long before modern researchers began charting happiness scores or well-being indices, many cultures, including India's, grappled with the deeper question of what it means to live well. Aristotle called this eudaimonia, a life shaped by purpose, character, health, and community. Similar ideas run through Indian traditions. The emphasis on dharma as right living, the pursuit of wisdom and compassion in Buddhism, and the understanding in the Upanishads all indicate that a meaningful life is one aligned with one's true nature.

This broader understanding has gained traction across disciplines. The Global Flourishing Study by Harvard University and Baylor University is one such effort to understand flourishing within a few co...