According to Chapter 21, what is required for a person to be able to meet a saint? It seems like it's not just about being nearby.

You are correct. Chapter 21 emphasizes that physical proximity is not enough to truly encounter a Saint. The text explicitly states that 'unless good fortune dawns, one does not encounter Saints and Sages.' It clarifies that the company of Saints is not accessible to the unfortunate and that this union is only easy to attain when God’s grace is present. The author uses his own past experience of avoiding the Siddha Pir Maulana, even when urged, as a prime example of how 'ill-luck stands in the way.' Therefore, this chapter teaches that the key prerequisites for attaining the company of a Saint are the dawning of good fortune and the presence of divine grace.