What was Sai Baba's philosophy regarding fasting for spiritual purposes, and why did he discourage it?

Sai Baba did not support fasting as a spiritual practice, teaching that it was counterproductive to true devotion. According to Chapter 32, he believed that the mind of a fasting person is not peaceful, which negates any potential spiritual benefit. He stated that God is not attained on an empty stomach and one must first satisfy the self. The text explains that all senses require strength from food to function, and without it, they become too weak for spiritual pursuits like hearing or describing God's glory. He considered excessive fasting to be terrible and a cause of continuous discomfort, a principle he demonstrated in his interactions with devotees like Mrs. Gokhale.