The sight of a sadhu smiling peacefully can be both surprising and deeply moving. These are people who have given up everything the world typically associates with happiness—possessions, status, even comfort—and yet many of them radiate a quiet joy that seems to come from somewhere else entirely. This is no accident. It’s the fruit of a spiritual life rooted in meditation, simplicity, and the pursuit of inner truth.
The Sanskrit blessing Sarvam Sukhino Bhavantu—“May all be happy”—captures the spirit of this path. Real happiness, as the sadhus demonstrate, doesn’t rely on having more—it comes from needing less. Through spiritual discipline, they learn to turn inward, discovering a steady source of peace and contentment that isn't tied to outer circumstances. Their lives offer a powerful reminder: the joy we seek might already be within us, waiting to be uncovered.
