Sri Sathya Sai addresses the First World Conference of Sathya Sai International Organisation

Thursday, May 16, 1968 to 
Sunday, May 19, 1968 

The first World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations was held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Campus in Bombay from the 16th to the 19th of May, 1968. 

Sri Morarji Desai, Deputy Prime Minister of India with Sri Sathya Sai, First World Conference - May 16, 1968

Sri Morarji Desai, Deputy Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Conference at 9 am on 16th morning. After the invocatory recitation by Sri Kameswara Ganapathy, Sri P. K. Sawant welcomed the delegates, and Sri Indulal Shah gave an outline of the programme. Swami then called upon some delegates to summarise the activities of the Organisations in their respective states. Justice V. Balakrishan Eradi from Kerala, R. P. V. Rayaningar from Madras, Dr. Choodasma from Jamnagar, Mrs. Khasalkar from Bihar, Sri D. P. Sukla from Uttar Pradesh, Sri Somdat Khera from West Bengal, Sri G. Ramarao from Orissa, Sri Murthy from Madhya Pradesh, and Dr. S. Bhagavantam from Delhi summarised the activities in their respective states. Chalrles Penn from Los Angeles, Howard Morphet from Australia, Dr. C. G. Patel from East Africa, Dr. Nallainathan from Ceylon, and Ms. Indra Devi from Mexico shared their experiences with the delegates. Swami then nominated a few members to head various Committees. A public meeting in connection with the Conference was held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Campus at 6 pm. Swami thrilled the audience with His Discourse in Sanskrit. He said:

"Ascetic practices, years of constant recitation of the Name, pilgrimages to holy places and shrines, study of sacred books, these will not help the aspirant to spiritual victory as much as communion with the Godly and the good. Bharat is a rare treasure-house of spiritual jewels; it can confer all boons on sincere seekers; this conference of seekers is indeed a great opportunity, and for the people of Bombay, this is a great piece of good fortune. Having thus spoken a few words as befits this glorious occasion in Sanskrit, the parent and core of all languages, I shall continue my discourses in Telugu, and it will be translated into English by Kasturi". (These sentences were spoken by Baba in Sanskrit).

On the 17th, Prof. V. K. Gokak and Dr. Nagappa Alwa, the former Health Minister of Mysore State, addressed the delegates. Sri P. K. Sawant and Mrs. Osborne addressed the delegates prior to Swami‘s Discourse. Swami then delivered His Message. It was on this day, that Swami made a momentous declaration:

Sri Sathya Sai on the dias at the First World Conference

"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, beating the Name that is chosen for it by Itself.

I must tell you this fact, because 99 persons out of 100 among you do not know My Reality. You have come here drawn by diverse needs, a taste for 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. Don't allow doubt to distract you from My Divinity. In truth, you cannot understand the nature of My Reality either today, or even after a 1000 years of steady austerity or ardent inquiry even if all mankind joins in that effort. But, in a short time, you will become cognisant 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 facet 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, any moment, My Divinity may be revealed to you; you have to be ready, prepared for the moment. Since Divinity is enveloped by human-ness you must endeavour 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 - Sarvadaivatwa Sarwaroopaalanu Dharinchina Maanavaakaarame Akaaram." 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 dock, 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 Sarvadaivatwa Swaruupam (the form, which is all forms of all 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 recognising Him in the incarnation was vouchsafed only after the physical embodiment had left the world, in spite of plenty of patent evidences 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 fact that this is the Supra-worldly Divinity in Human form. Revival of Vedic Dharma is Sai Sankalpa. Again, how fortunate you are that you can witness all the countries of the world paying homage to Bharata; you can hear adoration to 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 Sanatana Dharma to its genuine and natural status, the Dharma laid down in the Vedas for the good of all the peoples of the world. The revival of Vedic Dharma is the Sai Sankalpa (the resolve that Sai has) not only drawing people towards Me, attracting them by the manifestation of My Shakti (power) and Samarthya (capability). This is not a Bhrama Tatwam (phenomenon of delusion). This Tatwam (phenomenon) will sustain truth, it will uproot untruth, and in that victory make all of you exult in ecstasy. This is the Sai Sankalpam."

Sri Sathya Sai presiding over the sessions of the First World Conference

Swami met the delegates on the 18th and interacted with them. On the 18th morning Sri Indulal Shah, Sri Rayaningar and Dr. S. Bhagavantam addressed the delegates and Swami then delivered His Discourse. Sri Nanubhai Sastry of Navsari offered a Sanskrit epic on Swami‘s life at the Lotus Feet. Sri Indulal Shah, Sri P. K. Sawant, Prof. V.K. Gokak and Sri Bharde addressed the delegates during the Benedictory Function held on the 19th. Thereafter Swami blessed the delegates with His Valedictory Message. 

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijiyam Part 1 (1926-1985)