What is the role of the Guru in attaining spiritual realization, according to the teachings in Chapter 26?

According to the philosophy presented in Chapter 26, the Guru is the single most important figure in granting a disciple the knowledge of Truth. The text explicitly states that in the world, only the Guru is capable of this. The awakening from the illusion of Maya occurs when the time is right through the Guru's word. The author prays to the Sadguru, Sai Baba, to turn his intellect inward and provide the discrimination needed to distinguish the eternal from the temporary. It is emphasized that without the Guru's grace leading to direct experience, spiritual knowledge remains mere words, and only when the Guru-Soul is pleased is the true nature of reality realized.