As a first post we would  like to share our swami's very first letter to his brother.......
                                   

BAGAWAN BABA  on Himself.
Among the instances Swami has revealed about Himself, two vital instances are
Swami’s letter to his brother Seshamaraju
Swami’s discourse at the World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations in Bombay, 17 May 1968.
The two are produced herewith below for our contemplation on his holy day of Bhagawan’s 87th Birthday.
Letter to Sri Seshamaraju
On 25 May 1947, at the age of 20, in response to a letter from his brother who was concerned with what he was doing, Sri Sathya Sai Baba wrote the following letter.  This letter disclosed his mission.
      “My dear One! I received the communication that you wrote and sent; I found in it the surging floods of your devotion and affection, with the undercurrents of doubts and anxiety.  Let me tell you that it is impossible to plumb the hearts and discover the natures of jnanis, yogis, ascetics, saints, sages, and the like.  People are endowed with a variety of characteristics and mental attitudes, so each one judges according to his own angle, talks and argues in the light of his own nature.  But we have to stick to our own right path, our own wisdom, our own resolution without getting affected by popular appraisal.  As the proverb says, “it is only the fruit-laden tree that receives the shower of stones from passers-by.”  The good always provoke the bad into calumny; the bad always provoke the good into derision.  That is the nature of this world.  One must be surprised if such things do not happen.
      The people have to be pitied, rather than condemned.  They do not know.  They have no patience to judge aright.  They are too full of lust, anger, and conceit to see clearly and know fully.  So, they write all manner of things.  If they only knew, they would not talk or write like that.  We, too, should not attach any value to such comments and take them to heart, as you seem to do.  Truth will certainly triumph some day.  Untruth can never win.  Untruth might appear to overpower Truth, but its victory will fade away and Truth will establish itself.
      It is not the way of the great to swell when people offer worship and to shrink when people scoff.  As a matter of fact, no sacred text lays down rules to regulate the lives of the great, prescribing habits and attitudes that they must adopt.  They themselves know the path they must tread; their wisdom regulates and makes their acts holy.  Self-reliance, beneficial activity –these two are their special marks.  They may also be engaged in the promotion of the welfare of devotees and in allotting them the fruits of their actions.  Why should you be affected by tangle and worry, as long as I am adhering to these two? After all, praise and blame of the populace do not touch the Atma, the reality; they can touch only the outer physical frame.
 
    I have a “Task”: To foster all mankind and ensure for all of them lives full of bliss (ananda).  I have a “Vow”: To lead all who stray away from the straight path again into goodness and save them.  I am attached to a “work” that I love: To remove the sufferings of the poor and grant them what they lack.  I have a “reason to be proud”, for I rescue all who worship and adore me, aright.  I have my definition of the “devotion” I expect: Those devoted to me have to treat joy and grief, gain and loss, with equal fortitude.  This means that I will never give up those who attach themselves to me.  When I am thus engaged in my beneficial task, how can my name be tarnished, as you apprehend?  I would advise you not to heed such absurd talk.  Mahatmas do not acquire greatness through someone calling them so; they do not become small when someone calls them small.  Only those low ones who revel in opium and marijuana but claim to be unexcelled yogis, only those who quote scriptural texts to justify their gourmandry and pride, only those who are dry-as-dust scholars exulting in their casuistry and argumentative skill—only those will be moved by praise or blame.
      You must have read life stories of saints and divine personages; in those books, you must have read of even worse falsehoods and more heinous imputations cast against them.  This is the lot of mahatmas everywhere, at all times.  Why then do you take these things so much to heart?  Have you not heard of dogs that howl at the stars?  How long can they go on?  Authenticity will win.
      I will not give up my mission, or my determination.  I know I will carry them out.  I treat the honor and dishonor, the fame and blame that may be the consequence, with equal equanimity.  Internally, I am unconcerned. I act but in the outer world; I talk and move about for the sake of the outer world and for announcing my coming to the people; else, I have no concern even with these.
      I do not belong to any place; I am not attached to any name. I have no “mine” or “thine”. I answer whatever the name you use.  I go wherever I am taken.  This is my very first vow.  I have not disclosed this to anyone so far.  For me, the world is something afar, apart.  I act and move only for the sake of mankind.  No one can comprehend my glory, whoever he is, whatever his method of enquiry, however long his attempt.
      You can yourself see the full glory in the coming years.  Devotees must have patience and forbearance.
      I am not concerned, nor am I anxious, that these facts should be known.  I have no need to write these words; I wrote them because I felt you would be pained if I do not reply.”
Thus, your Baba



Bhagawan’s Discourse in World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations
17 May 1968 (Sathya Sai Speaks VI, 210-213)
This is the last part of Sathya Sai Baba’s discourse at the World Conference of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations in Bombay, 17 May 1968. It states plainly and directly that Sathya Sai Baba is an incarnation of God, come to restore righteousness (dharma).
      “Since at this place those who have devotion are gathered and people of all nations have come, I cannot but tell you one fact.  World conferences dedicated to religion or spiritual problems have no doubt been held before; also, conferences of followers of particular faiths.  But these have been held only after the demise of the founders and divine inspirers.  This is the very first time that a World Conference is held, of persons devoted, while the incarnation is present before every one, with the body assumed for the purpose, bearing the name that is chosen for it by Itself.  I must tell you this fact, because ninety-nine persons out of a hundred among you do not know my Reality. You have come here drawn by diverse needs, a taste of spiritual matters, eagerness to develop the institutions to which you are attached, admiration or affection, love or reverence or a spurt of enthusiasm to join others and share with others your own exultation.
      In truth, you cannot understand the nature of my Reality either today or even after a thousand years of steady austerity or ardent inquiry even if all mankind joins in that effort.  But, in a short time, you will become cognizant of the bliss showered by the divine Principle, which has taken upon itself this sacred body and this sacred name.  Your good fortune which will provide you this chance is greater than what was available for anchorites, monks, sages, saints and even personalities embodying facets of divine Glory!
      Since I move about with you, eat like you, and talk with you, you are deluded into the belief that this is but an instance of common humanity.  Be warned against this mistake.  I am also deluding you by my singing with you, talking with you, and engaging myself in activities with you.  But, [at] any moment my Divinity may be revealed to you; you have to be ready, prepared for that moment.  Since Divinity is enveloped by humanness you must endeavor to overcome the maya (delusion) that hides it from your eyes.
      This is a human form in which every divine entity, every divine principle, that is to say, all the names and forms ascribed by man to God, are manifest… Do not allow doubt to distract you; if you only install, in the altar of your heart, steady faith in my Divinity, you can win a vision of my Reality.  Instead, if you swing like the pendulum of a clock, one moment devotion, another moment disbelief, you can never succeed in comprehending the truth and win that bliss.  You are very fortunate that you have a chance to experience the bliss of the vision of the Sarvadaivathwa swaroopam  (the form that is all forms of the Gods) now, in this life itself.
   
  Let me draw your attention to another fact.  On previous occasions when God incarnated on earth, the bliss of recognizing Him in the incarnation was vouchsafed only after the physical embodiment had left the world, in spite of plenty of evidence of his grace.  And the loyalty and devotion they commanded from men arose through fear and awe at their superhuman powers and skills or at their imperial and penal authority.  But ponder a moment on this Sathya Sai Manifestation; in this age of rampant materialism, aggressive disbelief and irreverence, what is it that brings to it the adoration of millions from all over the world?  You will be convinced that the basic reason for this is the supra-worldly Divinity in human form.
      Again how fortunate you are that you can witness all the countries of the world paying homage to India (Bharatha); you can hear adoration of Sathya  Sai’s name reverberating throughout the world, even while this body is existing – not at some future date but when it is with you, before you. And again, you can witness very soon the restoration of the Ancient and Eternal Religion (Sanathana Dharma) to its genuine and natural status, the righteousness (dharma) laid down in the Vedas for the good of peoples of the world.  The revival of vedic dharma is the Sai sankalpa (the resolve that Sai has) not only drawing people toward me, attracting them by the manifestation of my shakti (power) and samarthya (capacity).  This is not a bhramathathwam (phenomenon of delusion).  This phenomenon will sustain truth, it will uproot untruth, and in that victory make all of you exult in ecstasy.  This is the Sai sankalpa (will).
      Some persons, even those who have reached a certain stage of leadership and authority, have started exchanging the Vedic formulae and the principles of Indian (Bharathiya) culture for lucre, selling them, in fact; and westerners too are inclined to purchase them!
      These truths and discoveries are not merchandise to be sold and bought.
      Therefore, I am going to western countries soon, in order to apprise them of their real worth and put a stop to this bargaining.
      Already, the authorities of universities in the United States of America and the leaders of the students of those universities have written that they are eager to welcome me and they have drawn up programs for me. It was only yesterday that passports for my visit to Africa have been brought, praying that I may visit those countries soon; I am proceeding to Africa before the month of June.
      So utilize the chance of association with me as much as possible, and endeavor as quickly and as best as you can to follow the directions that I have been giving. Obeying my instructions is enough; it will benefit you more than the most rigorous asceticism. Practice sathya, dharma, santhi, and prema, which are dear to me; resolve to keep those ideals before you ever, in all your thoughts, words and deeds. That can confer on you the summum bonum of mergence in the supreme substance of Divinity.”