How did Sai Baba view the practice of fasting, and why did he believe it was ineffective for spiritual growth?

Sai Baba held a firm stance against fasting, believing it was counterproductive to spiritual pursuits. As chapter 32 explains, Baba himself never fasted and would not permit his devotees to do so either. His reasoning was that the mind of a person who is fasting is not peaceful, which nullifies any potential spiritual benefit. The text explicitly states that God is not attained on an empty stomach and that one must first satisfy the soul. Baba taught that all the senses require strength from food to engage in devotion, and when weakened by hunger, they lose their capacity for spirituality. He considered excessive fasting to be a terrible practice that causes continuous discomfort.