SOME TEACHINGS OF SANT BABA BASANT SINGH JI MAHARAJ
1. Holy saints are indifferent to the world. Their Holiness gets sprinkled from their complete love for the Almighty. It is however, the duty of these Holy saints to preach the teachings of Guru Sahib. Practical demonstration by the Holy saints has far reaching impact.
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj occasionally visited Sri Darbar Sahib at Sri Amritsar. When the car, in which he traveled, reached the city of Sri Amritsar, he asked the driver to stop the car. He came out of the car and touched his forehead on the ground. His head touched the dust of the Holy City made Holy by Sri Guru Ram Dass Sahib ji. He used to say that only the fortunate ones are able to visit this pious land.
Professor Diwan Singh of Jalandhar had a lot of respect for Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. He was the brother of Sardar Dalip Singh (DSP), who was also a devotee of Sant Baba ji. During one of his conversations with Sant Baba ji, Sardar Diwan Singh mentioned the name of the Holy city as ‘Amritsar’.
Sant Baba ji clarified with his reasoning, “When a Sikh prays, he mentions the words, ‘SRI AMRITSAR JI DE DARSHAN ISHNAN’ (Visiting and Bathing at Sri Amritsar) in the ARDAS. Guru Sahib has taught this ARDAS to us. How can we therefore call this Holy City merely as ‘Amritsar’? You should always speak the words ‘Sri Amritsar’ when naming the Holy city.”
Sant Baba ji knew how to explain the things to the sangat in simple words for them to understand.
2. Whenever some serving official came to visit Nirmal Kutiya Johalan during his annual leave, Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj would ask about their leave that was still remaining. When one such person came Sant Baba ji asked him, “How many days of your leave are left before you go back to join your duty?”
The devotee replied, “Maharaj ji! In another four or five days.”
Sant Baba ji on hearing this reply counter questioned him and asked, “Is it four, or is it five days?”
The devotee would immediately understand the significance of this question and reply, “Maharaj ji! I will leave after five days.”
Sant Baba ji insisted, “Speak out those words which do not reflect fickleness of mind.”
3. Whenever someone agreed to accept the ambrosial nectar of the two edged sword, on his persuasion, Sant Baba ji happily announced, “It has been a successful day today.”
In case an Indian residing in a foreign country became ready to be baptized, then Sant Maharaj ji happily announced, “Today, a battle has been won.”
4. Many a time someone told Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj that a man or woman who had come for his DARSHAN was under the influence of evil spirits, Sant Baba ji shouted, “Go away from here. Get out of this place. This place is not meant for you.”
Listening to these words, the person affected by the spirits however, remained seated. The words were a command for the evil spirit to leave the body of the individual. There was an immediate result and the person became well before leaving Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
5. Many days Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj did not eat anything. Many devotees, who were regularly visiting Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, say that they had never seen Sant Baba ji eating in front of them.
Sant Baba ji thanked the Lord even when he ate a grain of food. A grain gave strength to the body and solace to the mind of the hungry person and thus Sant Baba ji considered it to be very important. After eating his food, Sant Baba ji uttered the following verse of Sri Guru Granth Sahib:
Blessed is the Lord of the World. Blessed is the Divine Guru. Blessed is that grain, by which the heart-lotus of the hungry blossoms forth. Blessed are those Saints, who know this. Meeting with them, one meets the Lord, the Sustainer of the World. ||1|| This grain comes from the Primal Lord God. One chants the Naam, the Name of the Lord, only when he tastes this grain. ||1||Pause|| (Page 873)