Can you elaborate on the concept of the author being a 'pretext' for Sai Baba's story and the conditions for divine assistance?

The concept of the author being a 'pretext', as detailed in Chapter 2, is central to understanding the divine origin of the work. Sai Baba stated, "He is merely a pretext; I myself shall write my own story!" This signifies that the true author is Sai Baba, who uses the human writer as a vehicle. The primary condition for receiving this divine help was the complete dissolution of the author's ego. Baba instructed, "He should dissolve his ego and surrender it at my feet." If this condition is met, Baba promised not just his full help with the book but that he would personally "enter with 'I-ness' and write with my own hand," demonstrating that divine grace flows only when the channel is cleared of personal ego and pride.