What was Baba's philosophy on the connection between eating and achieving spiritual realization?

Sai Baba taught that there is a direct and essential connection between eating and spiritual practice. According to Chapter 32, he believed one must "first satisfy the soul of the self" with food before true devotion is possible. Without the strength that food provides, the senses become weak and lack the capacity for spirituality. The text rhetorically asks how the eyes can see God or the tongue describe His glory on an empty stomach. Baba advocated for moderate eating, viewing both excessive fasting and overeating as harmful. He even stated that at times of intense hunger, the realization of "food as Brahman" arises, highlighting the divine importance of sustenance for any spiritual seeker.