Ego is such a disease that anyone at any time can become a victim of it. Even those who are normally humble will suffer sometimes from the vanity about their humility, thus falling prey to ego.
Every devotee of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj felt that he was the one who was the recipient of maximum blessings from Sant Baba ji. Some followers felt that they were more close to Sant Baba ji than others. They forgot that the Holy saint’s blessings were the same for everyone. Sant Baba ji was beyond the temptations and fascination of material things and was gracing everyone with his divine presence and simple spiritual teachings.
Jathedar Boojha Singh lived in village Chohak Kalan. He was a devout follower of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. One day he was going to village Hazara for some work. When he reached the main road from his village, Sardar Chain Singh of village Johal met him.
Sardar Chain Singh asked him, “Jathedar ji! Where are you going?”
Boojha Singh replied, “I am going to village Hazara for an urgent work.”
Sardar Chain Singh suggested, “Let us first go to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan and then you can go for your work.”
Sardar Boojha Singh replied, “Not today. I am in a hurry.”
Sardar Chain Singh insisted, “It will not take long. We will take leave early. Let’s go. You should relish some fruit etc before you leave for your work. I have a say there with Sant ji Maharaj and you will not be delayed.”
Sardar Chain Singh brought Sardar Boojha Singh against his will to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
While they were paying homage, Sant Baba ji asked, “Jathedar ji! Where are you coming from?”
Jathedar replied, “Maharaj ji! I am coming from my village and going to village Hazara.”
Sant Baba ji asked, “Then how are you here?”
Jathedar replied, “Sardar Chain Singh has brought me here. He met me on the main road.”
Sant Baba ji asked, “So you have not come of your own sweet will?”
Jathedar ji said, “No Maharaj! I have come here on the insistence of Sardar Chain Singh.”
Sant Baba ji asked, “What did Chain Singh say to you before bringing you here?”
Jathedar ji kept quiet. Sardar Chain Singh was exposed and he wanted to hide somewhere. Sant Baba ji repeated the question again.
Jathedar ji said, “He said he has a say at the Kutiya and after eating some fruits, we will take leave from Sant Baba ji.”
Sardar Chain Singh was blushing and bowed his head in shame. Sant Baba ji stopped the discussion there and kept quiet. He then took leave of both of them.
Both the friends came forward to touch the feet of Sant Baba ji but he had already started for his ascetic room.
When they came out of the Kutiya, Jathedar Sahib said, “You very proudly declared that you have a say at the Kutiya. What has happened? You talked about being served with fruit; I have not even been able to touch the feet of Sant Baba ji.”
Sardar Chain Singh said, “I am already feeling ashamed for my action. Please don’t say anything more about this. Instead now please think of a way so that Sant Baba ji forgives me.”
Jathedar was intelligent. He said, “Today is not the right time to go inside again. We will come here tomorrow.”
Sardar Chain Singh spent the night in agony. He could not sleep. He kept on praying to Sant Baba ji to excuse him for his foolishness. The whole night passed with his reciting the Name of the Lord.
Next day both reached the Kutiya. They genuflected in front of Sant Baba ji and stood before him with folded hands. Sant Baba ji gestured for them to sit. Both of them were really afraid and immediately obeyed his orders and sat down.
Boojha Singh spoke up, “Maharaj ji! Please forgive us for our mistake.”
Sant Baba ji kept quiet. He did not look at them. Sardar Chain Singh then said, “Maharaj ji! It was my mistake. I was at fault. Please forgive me. I have not slept for the whole night. I will not repeat this mistake again. Please forgive me.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Who am I to forgive you? Go to the Darbar Sahib and seek forgiveness from the righteous Guru Sahib.”
Both got up and went to Darbar Sahib. They prayed for forgiveness standing there in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
They came back to Sant Baba ji but were sent away after being given Parshad.
Sardar Chain Singh, after coming out of the Kutiya said, “I was out of my mind to have even thought of such a silly thing. I am relieved that Maharaj ji has forgiven me. The entire sangat is same for Maharaj ji. No one can approach Sant Baba ji. High officials come and bow before the Sadhu who is renunciation personified. I started considering myself a self made ‘Choudhry’. I have come back to my senses.”