When counseling the desperate old woman, what did Sai Baba reveal about his own experience with his Guru?

In order to soothe the old woman who was fasting to death for a mantra, Sai Baba shared a deeply personal story from his own past. As recounted in Chapter 19, he told her that he had a Guru who was a great saint and an "ocean of mercy." Baba confessed that he, too, once had a strong desire to receive a secret instruction, or 'ear-mantra,' from his master. He explained that he wore himself out serving his Guru, yet his Guru would not grant him the mantra he so desperately wanted. By sharing this, Baba created a connection with the woman based on shared experience and longing.