The author claims Sai Baba himself wrote the story through him. Isn't this just a convenient excuse for him to write whatever he wants and claim divine authority?

According to the source, this was a specific instruction and promise from Sai Baba himself. As detailed in Chapter 2, Sai felt compassion for the author and granted permission to create a collection of stories, stating, "My full help is with it." The condition for this divine collaboration was the author's complete surrender. Sai explained, "He is merely a pretext; I myself shall write my own story! ... When the ego is dissolved, no trace of it remains. Then I myself shall enter with 'I-ness' and write with my own hand." This indicates the author's role was to act as a pure instrument, with the divine message flowing only after the personal ego was removed, ensuring the story's authenticity.