What was Sai Baba's general view on fasting for spiritual purposes?

Sai Baba held a very clear and practical view against fasting for spiritual gain. As detailed in Chapter 32, he himself never fasted and would not permit his devotees to do so either. He reasoned that the mind of a person who is fasting is not peaceful, which he believed negates any potential spiritual benefit. His core teaching was that God cannot be attained on an empty stomach; one must first satisfy their own soul with food. The text emphasizes that the 'trouble of fasting and penance' simply did not work with Sai.