Sathya Sai Speaks - Vol. II Sprouts of Faith 25/11/62
Talking of faith, I must issue a warning. Many people are collecting money in various places using My Name for various purposes like arranging receptions, building mandirams, doing puja , etc. This is unauthorized and against My Wish and Command. Do not yield to such requests and encourage this practice, which I condemn. Then there is another set of people who trade on your faith. They advertise that I have 'possessed' them; that I am talking through a medium or a stove (!) or some other thing. Treat all such people and their agents or brokers as you treat cheats; if you do not treat them so , then you are also accomplices in the cheating process. There are others who gather groups of followers and admirers and collect money exhibiting some idol or image that has been 'given' by Me or advertising some other sign of My Grace. Some of them even declare, "Baba sent me to you to take from you some money" or "Baba has given me this" or " Baba blessed me specially thus and thus" and then ask you for your help or your praise or your purse! I ask you to chastise all these types of men and turn them away - whoever they are.
Sathya Sai Speaks - Vol. IV [ chapter 18 , 23/3/65, Manasa Sarovar ]
Then, there are some who proclaim that I am coming upon someone and speaking through them! They pretend to be my mouthpieces and communicate to others My advice and My suggestions, as if I have authorised them or as if I am Myself telling so through them. Now hear this, I never speak through another, I never possess another or use another as vehicle of expression. I come direct, I come straight, I come as I am, to confer Peace and Joy.
Sathya Sai Speaks - Vol. VIII Ch.6 Pg. 13 "You are all I" 14/5/71
Visualise God in your hearts; why go to such place or outside yourselves to see Him? In some places, they announce that I make Myself present and communicate through writings on rangoli powder etc! I do no such things. If I come to any place I come directly so that you see Me. I do not speak or answer through another person or medium!
Sathya Sai Speaks -Vol. VII Truth of truth 22/11/70
There are others who claim that I am speaking through them and answering questions put to them. These people must either insane or hysteria affected. I can only tell you that it is not Me who speaks through them. I do not need media; nor do I need substitutes or subsidiaries or representatives. There are some crooks who are publicising that I have allotted them some regions for ministration by them on My behalf, because they say, My devotees have increased so much that I am unable to attend to all of them single handed. On the face of it this is an absurd lie. Moreover consider another aspect. Even those who cry in pure agonising yearning Sai Sai Sai and lead pure unselfish virtuous lives, even these find it hard to realise Me. How then can these low scheming vulgar men who know no sadhana, sincerity, truth and humility; how can these people claim that they have been blessed by Me. They may wear the same style of dress, imitate gestures and style of speech but these will only bring their falsehood into greater prominence. That I am supposed to "possess" such people or speak through them or shower My grace on them is an assumption of which one ought to be ashamed! How then can anyone believe it, I wonder.
SSS Vol 8, P139,"Pretenders" 14/1/73
In the Bhagavatham, there is mention of a certain Poundraka, who sought to become a passable 'imitation' of Krishna; He added unto his name the name of Krishna, viz., Vasudeva. He announced himself as Poundraka Vasudeva. He got made an imitation Couch and an imitation Wheel (out of wood) and carried them about in his two artificial extra hands. He discovered the style which Krishna adopted while wearing his yellow silken robe and he scrupulously followed the same. He skillfully imitated the gait and gestures of Krishna. Some fools gathered round him, mistaking him to be the Lord they wereseeking. His insanity finally brought about his downfall and humiliation. In this Kali Yuga also such imitations are cropping up just as Poundraka shaped himself into a Vasudeva. We have today even Sathya Sai Babas: They get the same type of robe stitched, they strain themselves to cultivate the crown of hair, they study photographs and hold their hands up very nearly like I do and make themselves ridiculous by frantic attempts to imitate me.They forget that "imitation is only human; but Creation is Divine." Those who attempt to become Sathya Sai Babas by this ludicrous process of imitation only destroy whatever faith some people have placed in the Divine. They are poisonous pests which injure the peace and harmony of society. They collect around themselves insects of like nature. For only birds of the same feather can flock together. These 'pretenders' fall into ruin themselves and bring ruin on the society where they operate, as the proverbial horde of monkeys that ruin themselves and bring ruin on the forest which they inhabit.
SSS Vol 9, P 64, "The Poetry of Love" 1/4/74
If you can understand the bhava which I am transmitting, then you can become genuine devotees and Sadhaks, and progress on the path of self-realization. Now, there are Bhaktas by the million! They are increasing daily in number. And you might have noticed, Sai Babas too have become very large in number! Also, people claiming association with Me, claiming that I have blessed them more plentifully than others, and authorized them to go about the Bhaktas and gain importance or funds or donations! Real devotees will never announce such absurd claims or listen to such claims made by others. A true devotee will be steadfast in faith, whatever the ups and downs of worldly fortune.
SSS Vol 9, P 185,"Advice to Seekers" 28/3/75
If somebody says Sai Baba's powers have been given to him, then we run to him. Sai Baba's powers are such that they are not given to anybody else. Nobody has the ability to take powers from Sai Baba, nor the ability to give them to someone else. Sai Baba's powers are not given like that, and you should not be led away by such statements. Each one's power is within him; it is not possible to give such power to another person. In this manner, by allowing a weak mind to get control over us, if we begin running from place to place, where are we going to get strength of mind, and control our own mind? We must be able to follow one thought, one path. One does not have to search for spiritual power, going around the world and spending a lot of money .
