How did Sai Baba connect the physical need for food with the ability to practice devotion?

Sai Baba taught that the physical and spiritual are deeply intertwined, especially regarding food. According to the teachings in Chapter 32, devotion is impossible without the body being properly nourished. He questioned, "Without the moistness of food in the belly, how can the eyes see God? How can the tongue describe His glory? How can the ears hear it?" This illustrates his belief that all the senses require strength derived from food to function in the service of devotion. He summarized this by stating that only when the senses are strong can devotion to God happen. Therefore, satisfying one's hunger was not seen as a worldly distraction but as a necessary first step to enabling spiritual practice and realizing God.