What is the significance of Sai Baba being described as having 'left the body' rather than dying, and how does this console his followers?

The distinction is crucial for understanding the nature of enlightened beings. As explained in Chapter 43, Sai Baba's departure was not a passive event but a willful act where he 'burned the body in the fire of Yoga' and 'merged himself into the unmanifest.' This was possible because, as a Yogi, he could die at will. This act is presented not as a cessation but as a return to his previous unmanifest state, from which he continues to enjoy his true self and keep his devotees awake. The text assures followers that he remains firmly imprinted in their hearts, and the idea that his conscious body perished is one the mind should not accept, thus providing profound consolation.