Are there specific practices mentioned for engaging with Sai Baba's life story to build a devotional community?

Yes, the preface discusses the practice of performing a Parayan or Saptah, which is a devotional or week-long reading of a saint's biography. As detailed in Chapter 0, this practice is a form of service to the Guru. By collectively studying a comprehensive work like the Shri Sai Satcharita, written by Annasaheb Dabholkar, devotees engage in a shared spiritual activity. This act of group study and devotional reading not only serves the Guru but also helps devotees achieve the purpose of their lives, thereby strengthening the bonds within the community of followers.