Once a few Army officers collected together and came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan for the DARSHAN of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Their families including the ladies and children were also with them. The ladies were wearing red glossy suits and displaying their richness through their ornaments.
Sant Baba ji commented, “Have they come to the Kutiya or are attending some marriage?”
Sant Baba ji did not let them stay there and immediately took leave from all of them.
The ladies understood that in order to receive happiness from the House of the Lord, one had to lead a unpretentious life and dress up in a simple manner.
Sant Baba ji always pointed out to those who dressed to show off. He said that Lord could not be attained through the charms of fashion. When someone wore fashionable clothes, he or she kept on thinking about himself or herself. If one was thinking about himself then how could he gain anything from the House of Guru Sahib.
In another incident, an Army officer, a devotee of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan with his wife. The lady instead of having her hair in plaits had kept them flowing. She bowed before Sant Baba ji from a distance. When the Army Officer had paid his respects, he was asked by Sant Baba ji, “Sahib! Take a mat for yourself and give two to your wife.”
The Army Officer understood that the second mat was for the hair of his wife. He was very ashamed and sought forgiveness from Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji advised, “A true Sikh can be recognized from the way he or she handles his or her hair. Flowing hair is a fashion and the fashion will not take you to the path of the Lord.”
From then on the Army Officer and his wife remained within the defined parameters for a Gursikh.
Whenever Sant Baba ji visited the villages, towns and cities, a congregation was held for the sangat to join. The stage Secretary was specifically asked to announce that the attendance in the House of the Lord is not marked for those who came to the congregation in fashionable clothes. The Guru blessed those who were self-effacing, meek and simple.
The Gurmukh sheds pride and ego, humility resides in his heart By the light of Guru’s teaching is the dark of ignorance and false belief removed. (Bhai Gurdas, Var 29, Pauri 13)