An honorable person who commands respect in the society is expected to be humble as per the teachings of the ten Masters in Sikhism. A MANMUKH at a high position becomes proud. Those reciting Gurbani and repeating the Name of the Lord do not get entangled in the web of self-esteem, even though they are in the seats of power.
These persons are the Gursikhs as defined in Sikhism. In the presence of the company of the Holy, these persons come closer to the Guru. At this stage, if a great saint shows them the right direction, they do not hesitate to undertake the journey of love for the God.
The anniversary of Sant Baba Harnam Singh ji Maharaj of Jiyan was being celebrated at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, under the auspices of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj on 6th Poh, December 1950. Sardar Gurcharan Singh Dhillon, Superintendent of Police, Jalandhar and Giani Lakshmi Narain Singh (Incharge, Special Enquiry Agency, Punjab) with their families came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, to pay their homage on the occasion.
The Kirtan of Asa-di-var was going on. Groups of Ragi Jathas were sitting in a row. The Holy Book was placed in a tent exposed to the public to pay their obeisance. A priest was attending on the Holy Book. Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj was also sitting in the tent and so was Sant Baba Gian Singh ji with another individual. One attendant with his mouth covered with a cloth was sitting in attendance of the DEG PARSHAD.
Dhillon Sahib and Giani ji after genuflecting and paying respects to the Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib came and sat in the sangat. After some time an attendant came and said, “Maharaj ji is remembering you. Please come with me.”
Both of them got up and followed this individual. He guided them to the backside of the tent where the only entrance to the tent existed. Both entered and paid their homage to Sant Baba ji. Since Sant Baba ji was facing the Holy Book, they could only bow their heads on the ground to the side of Sant Baba ji. On the instructions of Sant Baba ji both sat there inside the tent in the lotus position.
Kirtan was going on. The groups of musicians were proceeding in singing the verses from the Vaar in turns. After the Asa-di-var, every Raagi Jatha was given time to sing two SHABADS from Gurbani. Thereafter the Dhadhi Jathas were given time to describe the historical events through zealous singing of the heroic ballads of the Sikh warriors.
Nambardar Didar Singh then addressed the gathering. He informed the sangat that as per the instructions of Sant Baba ji the sangat would now listen to the discourse on Gurbani from Giani Lakshmi Narain ji.
Giani ji was astonished to hear these words. He was a Sehajdhari Sikh and the orders were given to him for addressing to the sangat. Nevertheless, Giani ji got up from where he was sitting, bowed before Sant Baba ji and came to attend on Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The priest sitting there made place for him to take his position.
Giani ji read out a passage from Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the one that appeared on its page, on lifting the Rumala Sahib covering the Holy Book. The SHABAD was as mentioned below:
When I am pleasing to Him, then I sing His Praises. Singing His Praises, I receive the fruits of my rewards. The rewards of singing His Praises are obtained when He Himself gives them. ||1||
O my mind, through the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, the treasure is obtained; this is why I remain immersed in the True Name. ||Pause|| When I awoke within myself to the Guru’s Teachings, then I renounced my fickle intellect. When the Light of the Guru’s Teachings dawned, and then all darkness was dispelled. ||2|| When the mind is attached to the Guru’s Feet, then the Path of Death recedes. Through the Fear of God, one attains the Fearless Lord; then, one enters the home of celestial bliss. ||3|| Prays Nanak, how rare are those who reflect and understand, the most sublime action in this world. The noblest deed is to sing the Lord’s Praises, and so meet the Lord Himself. ||4||1||12|| (Page 599)
Giani ji gave the discourse on the Guru’s teaching mentioned in the passage. He described the meaning attached to each word. The entire sangat was attentive and became enchanted with the description and benefits of singing Lord’s praises.
After completing the discourse, Giani ji turned towards Sant Baba ji and genuflected at his feet. Sant Baba ji was in full bloom. He had a smiling face. He was sitting in the lotus position and had covered himself with a blanket. He took out his hand out of the blanket with two KIRPANS in the GAATRAS. On a signal Sant Baba Gian Singh ji bestowed one Gaatra on the shoulder of Giani ji and the other on Dhillon Sahib.
Nambardar ji stood in the sangat and said, “Dhillon Sahib will now address the sangat.”
Dhillon Sahib was not expecting this blessing and said, “It is only with the blessings of great saints that one can understand the graciousness of Sant Baba ji. Giani ji is intelligent enough and can explain the meaning of this grace of Sant Baba ji.” Dhillon Sahib returned to the tent after speaking these words.
Now Giani ji came to the stage wearing the GAATRA KIRPAN on his shoulder. He said, “I had been waiting for this signal for a long time. Sant ji Maharaj has now blessed me. I had studied Gurbani from Sant Sangat Singh ji of Kamalia (Now in Pakistan). I also belong to Kamalia and had received a lot of love from Sant Sangat Singh ji. Sant Sangat Singh ji had indicated that his duty was to impart knowledge about the Gurbani to me but another Holy saint would signal the actual meeting with Guru Sahib. I was growing older and was becoming restless as to when I will be able to meet such a Holy saint who would guide me to follow the path of truth. I am now ready as a seeker of the ambrosial Amrit. The signal is clear and loud. I have come to the right place.”
Giani ji went back inside the tent and fell at the feet of Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji was blooming with joy and repeatedly uttered the words, “Wah! Wah!”
Giani ji received the blessings of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj had recognized the need for such a gesture. Giani ji accepted baptism of the two edged sword, at Patiala, in the presence of the eminent Sikh personality Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh ji. During the remaining police service, Giani ji kept a flowing beard. He did not tie the beard, even when he was wearing his uniform.
Once in Simla a senior police officer asked Giani ji, “Giani ji! The tie of the Police uniform is not visible.”
Giani ji replied, “Sahib! The blessed tie of my Tenth Master Sri Guru Gobind Singh can at least be seen.” (He was referring to his flowing beard.) The senior officer did not pursue the discussion further and kept quiet.
Giani ji retired as Senior Superintendent of Police of Special Police Establishment (presently known as Central Bureau of Investigation) from Delhi in the year 1956. The magnetic pull of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj brought him to find a residence in Jalandhar Cantt. He found a residence with the blessings of Sant Baba ji and remained here till the end of his life.
Giani ji frequently went to pay homage to Sant Baba ji and took his family along with him. Sant Baba ji also visited his residence many a times. During these visits Nambardar Didar Singh accompanied Sant Baba ji.
Sant ji Maharaj could easily recognize his beloved followers. Giani ji was the only person who was instructed by Sant Baba ji to go to the first floor of Sachkhand building and conduct a religious discourse from there. Giani ji sat in attendance to Sri Guru Granth Sahib and spoke the meanings of the SHABAD that was read out from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This was done without the presence of any loud speakers. At that time the Holy Book Sri Guru Granth Sahib was kept at the first floor of the Sachkhand building.
Once Giani ji visited Takhat Sri Hazoor Sahib. A priest was reciting Gurbani from Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Giani ji felt that the recitation of the Gurbani was not being done correctly. He brought this to the notice of the administration and sought permission to recite the Gurbani. Giani ji was a Sehajdhari Sikh at that time. He was not permitted to do so and was told that only a baptized Sikh of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib had the privilege to recite Gurbani at that Gurdwara.
Moni ji was serving at Sri Hazoor Sahib and had recognized the spiritual state of Giani ji, but he could not interfere in the administrative work.
With the blessings of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, Giani ji was baptized and he once again had the occasion of visiting Sri Hazoor Sahib. He paid homage to the divine place of Guru Sahib. Then he went to meet Moni ji. He introduced himself to Moni ji, who recognized him. Giani ji said to him, “Moni ji! At least now no one will stop me from reciting Gurbani.”
One who gets engaged to the Lord’s Name, has pure love for the Lord, and attains a high status from devotional worship.
Through loving devotional worship, the supreme status is obtained, and in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, sorrows are dispelled. I am not worn down, I do not die, and nothing strikes fear in me, since I have the wealth of the Lord’s Immaculate Name in my purse. ||3|| (Page 382)