I have been declaring all the time, age after age, that when I, the Ancient One, assume human form, there are many false prophets who claim themselves to be Avatars. For instance, a week ago I received a letter from Uttar Pradesh. A devotee writes that there are two persons in his town, and each proclaims himself as the Avatar of the Age. This created a great deal of confusion in his mind. Also, in one of the towns in northern India, there is a social worker who claims — and has a genuine feeling of his claim — that he is the Avatar.
I am telling you all these things in detail, for it is my right alone to say so, as all of them are my children. As far as you are concerned, you should neither criticize nor indulge in backbiting [such persons]. If you speak ill of a real saint, it will be harmful for you. You will create dreadful [sanskaric] bindings. You should avoid scandalizing even the so-called mahatmas who call themselves saints, because it is not possible for you to be certain whether they are real or not. The presumptuous saints outwardly act like real saints. You will not be able to differentiate between them — just in the same way that you are not able to differentiate between the masts and mad persons. Yet, what a world of difference lies in their inner states!
Coming back to the point of real saints, I would like you to know that to become a saint is not child's play. The very word "saint," when commonly used or applied to anyone, creates a lot of misunderstanding. I will now tell you something that will clear up the misunderstandings regarding saints.
There are two types of saints: real saints and imitation saints. Just as an ordinary person cannot distinguish between a real and an imitation pearl, you cannot distinguish between a real saint and an imitation saint. I, alone, like a jeweler, can make out the difference.
Particularly in India we find a lot of imitation saints, and this is due to the superficial study of Vedanta. By studying Vedanta one can say: "I am God." Sadgurus also say: "I am God." Imitation saints also say the same thing, but with the help of Vedanta. Real saints need no such help; they say what they experience. There are also some who, after reading Vedanta, realize that they have no such experience, but they still say: "I am God." This is hypocrisy. There are also some imitation saints who, after reading Vedanta, have a genuine, inner feeling and say: "I am God," although, in reality, they have no conscious experience.