Describe Sai Baba's core philosophy on why fasting is detrimental to spiritual practice.

Sai Baba held a strong conviction against fasting, teaching that it was counterproductive to spiritual pursuits. As explained in Chapter 32, he believed that the mind of a fasting person is not peaceful, and without peace, no spiritual benefit can be gained. He famously stated that God is not attained on an empty stomach and that one must "first satisfy the soul of the self." Baba argued that all the senses need strength, which comes from food, in order to engage in devotion. Without it, the eyes cannot see God, the tongue cannot describe His glory, and the ears cannot hear it. He therefore promoted moderate eating and viewed excessive fasting as a terrible practice that only causes discomfort.