Sardar Milkha Singh of village Kukar Pind was a staunch devotee of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. He came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan daily to pay his obeisance. He had immense love for Sant Baba ji. Many a times when he came late he had observed Sant Baba ji meditating on the sand dunes.
One evening, it was quite late when he started for his daily routine of going to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. When he was passing the village of Dhilwan, he heard horrifying noises from behind the sand dunes. Milkha Singh became scared on hearing the voices. He first thought of turning back but then he brought the image of the feet Sant Baba ji before his eyes. He bowed his head and moved on. Though he was moving forward yet the distance between him and the source of the voices remained the same.
He reached Nirmal Kutiya Johalan a shaken man from the strange experience. He paid his homage to Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji asked him, “Milkha Singh! Why are you so late today?”
Sardar ji replied, “Maharaj ji! I got delayed because of household work.”
Sant Baba ji explained to him, “Milkha Singh! The day is meant for human beings but in the dark other creatures have the liberty to spend their time in their own way.”
Milkha Singh understood that Sant Baba ji was referring to the voices of the creatures. He was sorry for his mistake of coming late. He said, “Patshah! I did not have to worry. You were with me throughout the distance.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Fear is of the mind. If you recite Gurbani then there is no fear. Satguru remains with you, whenever one recites and follows the Gurbani. Please do keep in mind to respect all the creations of the Almighty.”
Sardar ji folded his hands and humbly said, “Patshah! I will keep this in mind for future.” He then came back to his village after Sant Baba ji took leave of him.
Once in the village, Milkha Singh attended a mimicry show. Like the others watching the show, he also gave a silver coin to the mimer. Sardar Milkha Singh had never done this before and someone sitting there did not like his action. This person came to Sant Baba ji and informed him about the incident.
Sant Baba ji on hearing this started striking the ground forcefully with his stick.
Sant Baba ji said to this person from the same village, “This is not according to the Sikh Code of Conduct. Sardar Milkha Singh has his bonds with the house of Guru Sahib. It is not good on his part to have tipped the actors. He has blackened his face by doing such a thing.”
This person thought that Milkha Singh would be in deep trouble now. He would not be welcomed at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He felt that this would be unfair for Milkha Singh. He though could not understand whether it was Sant ji Maharaj’s anger or was it some kind of a blessing.
Sant Baba ji further said, “Go and tell Milkha Singh that he can now only be excused by the sangat. He should ask for forgiveness from the sangat. If he wants to come to the Kutiya, then he should blacken his face. In case anyone asks him about his blackened face, he should reply that he had made a mistake by tipping the mimers in the village and that he should be forgiven for his act.”
The Fifth Master Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji expresses the issue of false entertainment strongly in the following verse of Gurbani:
You may have enjoyments and entertainments of all sorts and kinds, and continue to enjoy exciting pleasures and yet, if you do not come to remember the Supreme Lord God, you shall be reincarnated as a snake. ||6|| (Page 70)
This person on return to the village informed Milkha Singh about the instructions of Sant Baba ji.
Sardar ji realized his mistake and repented for his action. He had just one thought now, “How will Sant Baba ji forgive him?”
He was so emotionally attached to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan that he could not possibly afford to be away from the fold of Sant Baba ji.
Next morning Milkha Singh blackened his face and started for Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He decided that he would ask for forgiveness from Sant Baba ji and not delay this.
People of the village laughed at him. Those who could recognize him asked him, “Why have you done this?”
Milkha Singh informed them that he had made a mistake by tipping the mimers and should be excused for his behavior.
Sant ji Maharaj was kind to him when he reached Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Sant Baba ji said, “Milkha Singh! Your face will now shine brightly when you face the Almighty. Go and wash your face from the water of the well. You have now been blessed by Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.”
Thereafter Sant ji Maharaj gave his teaching to him, “The money of a Gursikh is a gift from the Almighty. It should not be used for wrong purposes. It should be used for the service of other Gursikhs.”
The Tenth Master Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib mentions about this in the following verse of Gyan Parbodh:
I like to serve them and my mind is not pleased to serve others; the charities bestowed on them are really good and the charities given to others do not appear to be nice; The charities bestowed on them will bear fruit in future and the charities given to others in the world are unsavoury in front of donation given to them; in my house, my mind, my body, my wealth and even my head everything belongs to them. (Gyan Parbodh 10th Master)
Sant Baba ji understood the love and respect that Sardar Milkha Singh had for him. Milkha Singh was fortunate to have been shown the right path to be followed by a Gursikh.
This incident also conveys that a true Sikh is not afraid of begging for forgiveness for a mistake he has committed.