I'm worried that since Baba left his physical body, he's no longer really present in Shirdi. What does Chapter 43 say to reassure devotees about this?

Chapter 43 directly addresses this very concern, urging devotees not to entertain such doubts. The text explicitly states, 'Let such a doubt not come to the mind; Shri Sai is beyond death.' It explains that while his physical form is no longer there, Maharaj has become one with Brahman and, in his true form, 'fills the moving and non-moving world.' The Satcharitra reassures us that his influence is proven and continues to be felt today. The experience a devotee has depends on their own feeling and devotion, implying that his presence is accessible to all. Therefore, his departure from the body was not an end but a transformation into a more pervasive, universal presence.