Guru ji gave so much respect to the Khalsa. Humility of Gursikhs always brings a tear to the eye.


I'll tell you a story of Bhai Gareebo ji,

Bhai Gareebo ji was very poor and didn't have anything to eat. He and his wife lived on almost water. He was devout Gursikh and told his wife that he worked as a kathavachak (story teller) in the King's court. He once wanted to visit the Guru, but didn't have anything to bring as his "dasvandh" (tithe). He searched everywhere and found 1 kaudi (coin).

He went to visit Guru ji, but ashamed, he sat separately in the back and thought about slipping the coin in when nobody was looking. As the whole sangat donated their offerings. Guru ji sat quietly. An elder asked why Guru ji was quiet, to which guru ji replied that he was waiting for an offering. The sangat looked around and wondered. Guru ji in the end found Bhai Gareebo ji sitting in the shoes area (jorheyan vich). Guru ji asked Bhai Gareebo for his donation. When Bhai Gareebo ji donated, the sangat laughed that he only offered 1 coin, and said that he was not with them.

Guru ji hugged Bhai Gareebo ji, and asked him what he wanted from Guru Nanak's darbar. Bhai Gareebo had a list of things that they needed for the house from his wife, but Bhai Gareebo asked for Naam (God's Name).

When Bhai Gareebo returned home, he asked around where his house was. People told him that the once poor Gareebo's house is no more, it had become a mansion. When Bhai Gareebo ji asked what had happened, his wife mentioned that the king had come home to present all of this.

In the end, Bhai Gareebo turned into a great Sikh, who served any traveler going to the Guru's darbar.