Sardar Gurbax Singh of village Thole, near the town of Phagwara was the devotee of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. He came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan from time to time and served the sangat and Sant ji Maharaj. He had immense love for Sant Baba ji and always kept on thinking of offering something unique to Sant Baba ji.
He was very involved when he was serving the sangat. When one involves in such service, it is natural that the haughtiness gets reduced and a person becomes modest. Guru Sahib says that the SEWA should be undertaken to relieve oneself from vanity and snobbery. The following verse from Gurbani suggests the type of SEWA one should undertake.
Serve Him in many different ways; Dedicate your soul, your breath of life and your wealth to Him. Carry water for Him, and wave the fan over Him - renounce your ego.
Make yourself a sacrifice to Him, time and time again. ||1|| (Page 391)
Gurbax Singh got prepared some furniture for his house in village Thole. When the furniture was ready, he brought the same to his residence. He observed the furniture closely and found it to be very beautiful. He thought that he was not worthy of owning such high class furniture. This type of furniture was befitting for the use by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj.
He discussed this thought with his wife and both agreed to take the furniture to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. His wife prepared langar with all love and humility. The furniture and the langar was carried by the family and brought to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
Sant Baba ji asked Gurbax Singh, “Why have you brought these things here?”
Gurbax Singh replied, “Maharaj ji! This is a small offering from this humble devotee.”
Sant Baba ji asked him, “But what is it?”
Sardar ji replied, “Maharaj ji! There is langar for the sangat and chairs and bed for your use.”
Sant Baba ji said, “We sit and sleep on the floor. No one in the Kutiya sleeps on a bed or sits on a chair. We do not require these things here. Take them back with you.”
Gurbax Singh was a devout Sikh and did not insist further. He said in agreement, “Satya Vachan Maharaj!”
On the instructions of Sant Baba ji the attendants served langar to the sangat. Sant Baba ji also took a small portion of the langar in a bowl.
After that Sant Baba ji took leave from Gurbax Singh and his family.
It was winter and it became dark quite early. The entire surroundings were covered in darkness, when Gurbax Singh and his family members started back for their village.
They were carrying the funiture with them. On the way, in the pitch darkness they were stopped by robbers. The robbers threatened and asked them to place everything of value on the ground in front of them.
Sardarji and the other family members carrying the furniture kept it on the ground and stepped back. All were afraid of the robbers. Sardar ji thought, “If Sant ji Maharaj had accepted this furniture then it would not have come in the hands of these robbers.” He however, bowed his head to the Will of the God.
One of the robbers asked, “From where have you brought these goods?”
Sardar ji replied, “This is new furniture. We had taken it to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan for the use of the Holy saint Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, but he did not accept our offering.”
The robber asked, “Why was it returned. Your Sant Baba ji did not like it.”
“Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj is a very simple saint. He said that that he would not be using it as he sleeps on the floor. He refused our offering. Maybe now this is meant for your comfort.”
The robbers discussed amongst themselves, “If these goods have been returned by a great saint Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, then it is not meant for us also. We should not get involved in a mean act of looting the same from these innocent people.”
They decided not to commit the sin of looting the family of Gurbax Singh. One of them said, “We all are very sorry to trouble you. We seek your forgiveness for our mean act. In order to absolve ourselves of the sin, we will carry the furniture till your residence.”
Sardar ji said, “No No! You should not take this trouble. We will carry it ourselves.”
But the robbers insisted in performing the service and picked the furniture on their head and said, “Don’t be afraid. You walk ahead and guide us to your residence.”
Sardar Gurbax Singh was really moved by this event. He was dazzled by this strange happening. He raised loud slogans of’ ‘Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, you are really a great saint’.
He talked with the robbers and informed them about the Holy saint. He asked them, “It seems that you have been moved by the words of Sant Baba ji. Now since there is a change of heart, you should stop looting people.”
The robbers were grateful to Sardar ji to mention about Sant Baba ji. They in fact enjoyed serving him. They promised that they would now work hard for their living and give up the profession of robbing people at night.
If the hearts of the people get affected by the mention about the events happening in Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, one can imagine the divinity present at that place. There was no egoism in Gurbax Singh and was thus a blessed soul. Gurbani says:
Be humble, and surrender to the True Guru; do not attach your identity to your ego. The world is consumed by ego and self-identity; see this, lest you lose your own self as well. Make yourself follow the Sweet Will of the True Guru; remain attached to His Sweet Will. Thus says Nanak: renounce your ego and self-conceit, and obtain peace; let your mind abide in humility. ||7|| (Page 441)
The furniture still adorns the house of Gurbax Singh. He cannot forget the blessings of the Holy saint. This incident aptly suggests that nothing can happen to a Sikh provided he obeys the commands of the Almighty Satguru. One gets strength from following the tenets explained by the Gurus.