wisdom If you would see a rope that is coiled up outside of the house and it’s almost dark … but … you see this, and you are screaming … it’s a snake; it’s a snake [crying gesture] And everybody comes running … what’s the matter? Why are you yelling? Because there is a big snake there They say, Oh! Come on Somebody in the house goes back, gets a flashlight, comes out … Oh! I was watering the flowers and rolled up the hose and didn’t put it away It’s my hose! (personal communication, January 20, 2018) Whereas Swamini Amritananda emphasized that wisdom leads to courage, researchers also link courage to altruistic actions (Fagin-Jones & Midlarsky, 2007; Pury & Lopez, 2012) in the realm of positive psychology Altruistic behaviors (Theme 10) By developing altruistic pro-social behaviors like selflessly serving humanity (includes related constructs like love, empathy, compassion, and kindness), it is possible to be happy without a quest to reach success in the external world (Finding #3) The study results found that sadhus were very happy by their act of compassionately and selflessly serving others (Themes 7, 10) Finding #3 is consistent with the literature that supports a positive link between altruistic behaviors and happiness (Cassell, 2017; Dambrun & Ricard, 2011; Neff & Costigan, 2014; Pessi, 2011; Post, 2005) and thus has added support and evidence to the second pillar of positive psychology Spirituality or religiosity10 (Theme 11) The claim that Finding #3 made that happiness is possible without a quest in the external world is also possible by developing 10 Even though some differences exist, this study assumes spirituality and religiosity are similar terms (Hill et al., 2000; Zinnbauer et al., 1997) The two terms are used interchangeably in this thesis 203