What was Sai Baba's fundamental teaching regarding fasting and its connection to spiritual practice?

Sai Baba's core teaching was that fasting is detrimental to spiritual practice. As detailed in Chapter 32, Baba himself never remained fasting and would not allow his devotees to do so either. He believed that the mind of a fasting person is not peaceful, which negates any potential spiritual benefit. The text emphasizes that God is not attained on an empty stomach and that one must first satisfy the soul of the self by eating. This perspective suggests that physical well-being is a prerequisite for genuine spiritual engagement, as a hungry person cannot achieve the peace required for devotion.