Sai Baba's advice seems contradictory. In one instance, he says not to shoo away any creature, not even a pig or a fly, but then he advises to completely abandon people of bad character. How can both be true?

This is an insightful point that highlights different layers of Sai Baba's teachings in Chapter 3. The instruction not to "shoo away (had-had) anyone, be it a dog, pig, or fly" is based on the spiritual principle that "Without some connection (lagya-bandhya), no one comes to us," encouraging a universal acceptance. In contrast, the advice to "move aside" from a person of fallen character who has "abandoned religious conduct" is practical guidance for a spiritual aspirant's self-preservation. It is not about lacking compassion but about protecting one's own spiritual path from negative influences that can ruin one's actions and goals. One teaching addresses universal connection, while the other offers practical protection for a devotee.