It seems contradictory for a desireless saint like Sai Baba to ask for money. How is this paradox explained in the text?

The text directly addresses this apparent contradiction. Chapter 14 poses the question, "How can one be desireless if he asks for money from devotees?" The explanation provided is that the act transcends material greed. For a saint to whom pebbles and diamonds hold the same value, the request for Dakshina served a higher purpose. The core philosophy was to instill humility in his followers. By sending a wealthy person to beg from a poor one, Baba demonstrated that his focus was on spiritual development, not monetary gain. The act was a method for the welfare of devotees, not for the saint's personal needs.