PACHMI PARKASH - Global Sikh Studies

Baba Sucha Singh Ji (who was also a disciple) replied, “Maharaj! When we looked
before there wasn’t even one piece, but just with your sight the mountain of salt which
was here, has now changed into sugar, as with your grace and vision even a spec of
sand could be turned into sugar.”
Baba Ji with compassion smiled and laughed and told them all not to allow this to
happen again as one should not be miserly when it comes to Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s
food. Baba Ji gave word saying to them that they should burn the sweet rice that had
been made with unrefined raw sugar cane rocks and make some more using this
refined sugar rock. Baba Ji then before returning back to their hut gave his presence
and vision to the already awaiting devotees.
Guru’s free kitchen is limitless
Baba Karam Singh Ji Maharaj every year would have two main gatherings which
were celebrated at the Hoti camp, one was at Vaisakhi and the other was the 10 th of
Assu gathering. The congregation would gather at both in great numbers and the
Government would also give their Soldiers leave to attend these gatherings.
The Soldiers would come and help serve the food and for those Soldiers who couldn’t
make it, their fellow Soldiers would take food back for them. In this way two to three
hundred Soldiers would come and help around the celebrations for three consecutive
days and at the end of the gathering they would pack food for the fellow Soldiers and
take it back to them.
Now the cooks and some of the disciples thought to themselves that these Soldiers
were a burden as after doing their selfless service, they would take back large
quantities of food with them, and that may be they should do all the free kitchen
serving themselves, in turn they would save on food as the Soldiers wouldn’t attend
and serve so they won’t take back food either.
After the celebration was over, all the cooks and disciples from the kitchens went to
see Baba Ji. At this time Baba Ji was sitting with the congregation and on seeing them
all approaching, foreseeing their wishes, Baba Ji said, “What’s the matter? What are
all of you doing here together?”
Sri Maan replied, “Maharaj! We have come to make a request.” Baba Ji told them to
go ahead. Sri Maan continued to saying, “From now on we’ll do all the free kitchen
arrangements and serving ourselves on this celebration, we don’t want any Soldiers to
enter in the kitchens as they take advantage of it.” Baba Ji listened and then began to
laugh and asked, “Why? What’s the matter? Why are you so against them?”
Sri Maan explained saying, “Maharaj there’s usually two to three hundred of them
and for each of them they have another four or so friends and so what they do is to
take food for all of them too and this is not good.” Baba Ji replied, “Why does this
worry you? Is it your worry that the food might finish?” Then Baba proceeded with
these words saying, “This Guru Nanak Ji’s free kitchen even if the whole of
Hindustan ate it, it would still be endless, so stop your worrying. Secondly who ever
eats even a small morsel of this food, will never break away from Hoti his whole life
and will become a faithful devotee of The True Guru’s house. Now you tell me, what
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