According to this passage, why is pride considered a formidable obstacle on the spiritual path, and how does it manifest in relation to saints like Sai Baba?

Chapter 35 identifies pride as the most difficult and formidable obstacle on the spiritual path, comparing the journey of a prideful person to navigating a terrible forest. This pride manifests as a form of intellectual or spiritual arrogance. For instance, some individuals described in the chapter believed that a formless God was superior and that saints with a physical form, like Sai Baba, were merely human and rooted in illusion. This pride led them to conclude that one should not bow before such saints or offer them Dakshina, viewing such acts as a mockery of true devotion. As Chapter 35 illustrates, this mindset is a significant barrier that is only overcome through the transformative power of a direct experience, such as Sai's Darshan.