According to Chapter 28, what is the relationship between a devotee's past karma, the attainment of a saint's company, and subsequent spiritual progress?

Chapter 28 presents a deep spiritual principle concerning the journey to a Guru. It posits that meeting a saint is not a chance event but the result of the ripening of accumulated karma from many past births. As the chapter states, it is only when this karma rises up that the company of saints is attained. This sacred meeting acts as a catalyst for profound transformation. According to the teachings in Chapter 28, once a devotee attains the company of a saint, the 'darkness born of delusion is destroyed.' This ignites the 'fire of discrimination,' leading to detachment from worldly enjoyments. Ultimately, this process results in the destruction of accumulated karma, making one's life spiritually successful.