The sadhus mentioned that discovering ananda (Sanskrit: happiness) as one’s true self is the elimination of duality and elimination of fear As for fear in sadhus, I asked the sadhus a general question—Do you fear anything? While answering this question, Swami Nigamananda, the White American male sadhu from the Pacific region of the United States, asserted that duality causes fear In his words, The Upanishad (Sanskrit: ancient texts of the Vedas) says that fear is caused by duality And so if you see nothing other than yourself, the vision of a Gyani (Sanskrit: a spiritually enlightened person), there is nothing here but Ishwara (Sanskrit: God), same as saying that there is nothing here but Brahma (Sanskrit: God or the creator of this known world), the same as saying that there is nothing here but me, and so, would you have no other, where is the fear? (personal communication, January 31, 2018) On fear, Swami Nigamananda also mentioned during the sadhus’ renunciation ceremony the sadhus are required to take many vows, and one of the main vows is about fear or abhyam (Sanskrit: no fear)—that may I fear no one, and no one fears me In his words, … that the main vow that the sannyasi (Sanskrit: renunciate) takes is abhyam (Sanskrit: fearlessness) There are other vows too, but it is abhya (Sanskrit: fearlessness)—it’s bidirectional May I have no fear and may no one fear me So, no one fears me, may my words and actions all be Dharma (Sanskrit: moral and ethical actions) (personal communication, January 31, 2018) On the questions about fear, Swamini Nirmalananda, a White American female sadhu from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, said the experience of true happiness or self ends fear She also said duality causes fear She said, [discovering true self or non-duality] … diminish and ultimately eliminate [fear] Because fear is based on the consciousness of duality As long as I feel I am a 139