According to Chapter 6, what is the role of a Sadguru like Sai Baba in a devotee's life?

Chapter 6 of the Sai Satcharitra beautifully illustrates the paramount role of the Sadguru. It describes the Sadguru as a "helmsman" who safely guides a devotee's boat, whether in spiritual or worldly matters, to the "far shore." The chapter emphasizes that the Guru's blessing hand, when placed on a devotee's head, can burn away the subtle body of ego, wash away impurities from many past births, and fill the heart with self-bliss. As stated in Chapter 6, the Sadguru awakens the sense of 'I am He' (Soham) and dissolves the sense of 'me and mine,' ultimately leading the devotee to experience the harmony of non-duality.