SOILED HANDS THAT CLEANSE HEARTS

- By Puran Prakash 'Saqi'

Delhi 1965. A couple of European visitors came to meet Baba Gurbachan Singh. I went looking for him and found him working underneath a car, in the automobile workshop located inside the Sant Nirankari Mission headquarters compound. When I mentioned to Baba Ji that there were a couple of foreign visitors at the reception, Baba Ji directed me to bring them over to the workshop office. I was hoping that Baba Ji would ask me to bring them to the visitor lobby. Anyway, I went to the reception and came back to the workshop, along with the visitors. I thought that Baba Ji would be ready, but he was still working on the automobile. So, I introduced him to the visitors by saying, "Here is Baba Ji." Baba Ji greeted the visitors with a big smile and folded hands and said, "I am sorry, I can't shake hands with you. My hands are soiled." Then Baba Ji and the visitors started talking.

At the time, a devotee brought some pastries and offered them to Baba Ji, who smilingly looked at the pastries, then at his soiled hands, then at me. I don't know if it was right or wrong; I picked up a piece and put into Baba Ji's mouth. And lo, every body stated doing the same. Soon, we were feeding one another. Baba Ji smiled and said, "Instead of hoarding, if we start sharing and instead of being greedy if we start feeding our fellow beings, hunger and many of our problems can be solved easily."

Impressed by Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji's simple living and high thinking, the visitors said, "Here are the soiled hands that cleanse the hearts."