What was Sai Baba's specific guidance on who to associate with and who to avoid?

Sai Baba gave very clear instructions on the importance of proper association. As detailed in Chapter 3, he strongly advised devotees to abandon those who have forsaken religious conduct and whose character has fallen. He went so far as to say one should move aside when such people approach, consider them dangerous, and not even remain in their shadow. Baba questioned how a person who is thoughtless and whose actions are ruined could achieve their goals. Conversely, he also taught not to shoo away any creature, be it a dog, pig, or fly, because no one comes to the Dwarkamai without some prior connection.