What was Sai Baba's general philosophy regarding fasting and its role in spirituality?

Sai Baba did not advocate for fasting as a spiritual practice. As detailed in Chapter 32, he himself never remained fasting and would not let his devotees fast either. He believed that the mind of a fasting person is not peaceful, which negates any potential spiritual benefit. His teaching was that God is not attained on an empty stomach. Instead, one should first satisfy the soul by eating, because all the senses require strength to engage in devotion. The text states that if the senses become weak from lack of food, they lose their capacity for spirituality. Thus, Baba's philosophy prioritized a nourished body as a foundation for a peaceful mind capable of devotion.