A SADHU SPEAKS SPONTANEOUSLY BUT HIS WORDS DO NOT GO IN VAIN
It is really difficult to understand the utterances of great Holy saints. The invaluable words of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj were not easy to comprehend. His words some times related to the events of the past, sometimes to the present and sometimes to the future. The devotees of Sant Baba ji however, had full belief in his words.
Shankar Das of village Bolina worked in a goldsmith’s shop in Jalandhar. Everyday he came to pay his homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, before proceeding to his work place.
He had been visiting Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, since he was a child. He knew the disciplines in the Kutiya and followed them with respect and love. He always bowed at the feet of Sant Baba ji with full reverence and sought his blessings. He genuflected in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Darbar place with complete respect. He silently stood there in the Kutiya and tried to accumulate the richness of the peaceful atmosphere all around. He enjoyed visiting the Kutiya.
Once he came to the Kutiya and Sant Baba ji said to him, “Welcome Seth ji.”
The eyes of Shankar Das were on the feet of Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji sitting on the mat was getting pleasure from the Grace of the Almighty. Shankar Das observed that Sant Baba ji sometimes stretched his legs and sometimes entwined them. He though did not let his gaze go astray. He enjoyed every moment of his presence there with Sant Baba ji.
An attendant was asked by Sant Baba ji, “Seth ji is in a hurry. He should be given Parshad.”
When the attendant had given the Parshad, Sant Baba ji said, “Seth ji! Now please go to your work place.”
He came out of the Kutiya and relished the encounter with Sant Baba ji. He could not however, understand why Sant Baba ji had called him ‘Seth ji’. He was only a worker at the Goldsmith shop.
Shankar Das was a dedicated worker. With his hard work he was able to earn well. He was blessed by Sant Baba ji and he succeeded in everything he laid his hands on. His profits were high. Within a short period of time he became quite rich. He though did not stop coming to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He always was thankful to Sant Baba ji for his spiritual guidance at all times. He felt that Sant Baba ji was catching hold of his finger like a child and escorting him.
He offered his thanks to Sant Baba ji whenever he visited Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. There was no need for him to pray to gain material wealth. The more he thanked the more prosperous he became.
A time came when he had enough surplus money and people approached him for lending. Their commitments fulfilled with the money provided by Shankar Das. Within a short period the number of borrowers increased. He started to be known as ‘Seth ji’ because of his lending money as a moneylender.
Shankar Das at this stage understood why Sant Baba ji had called him ‘Seth ji’.
He praised Sant Baba ji wherever he went. It was from Nirmal Kutiya Johalan that he had received the blessings of prosperity.
When Shankar Das was on his deathbed, he collected his children and advised them, “I had the complete blessings of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. If you also keep on holding to Sant Baba ji with full love, respect, sincerity and full faith, then you will also receive back the same blessings. Whatever prosperity we have today, will increase manifold. In case your mind gets upset or you are in some kind of trouble, please recite the complete Japji Sahib. This will soothe your mind and you will receive happiness.”
Today the children of Seth ji are well settled. One has a gas agency, another deals in gold ornaments, and still another is a high official in the State Government. People address all of them as ‘Seth ji’ or ‘Shah ji’. The entire family continues to be in the fold of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. They all have immense faith and serve at the Kutiya, with mind, body, cash and material goods.
In the Sanctuary of the Holy Saints, I have found the Dear Lord, and I constantly sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. Applying the dust of the devotees to the mind and body, O Dear Lord, all sinners are sanctified. The sinners are sanctified in the company of those who have met the Creator Lord. Imbued with the Naam, the Name of the Lord, they are given the gift of the life of the soul; their gifts increase day by day. (Page 543)