Why does the author of Chapter 26 emphasize the need for personal experience over mere intellectual knowledge, and what specific state do they ask for?

The author of Chapter 26 makes a clear distinction between intellectual understanding and lived spiritual reality, stating that without experience, "the exhaustion of speech achieves nothing in spirituality." He prays to Sai Samarth to make the knowledge of the Self meaningful through personal experience. This is because he recognizes that his intellect is often mounted on false logic, which prevents him from solving the mystery of existence. Therefore, as detailed in this chapter, he asks Baba for the ultimate gift of the "natural state of union (Sayujya)" through His grace, which represents a direct, experiential union with the divine, far beyond simple words or concepts.