Why is a Guru so important according to the philosophy in Chapter 26?

According to the teachings presented in Chapter 26 of the Shri Sai Satcharitra, the Guru is indispensable for spiritual awakening. The text explicitly states that in this world, "only the Guru is capable of granting the knowledge of Truth to a disciple." This knowledge is crucial because the physical world is described as an illusion, or Maya, which can only be dispelled when the time for awakening through the Guru's word arrives. The author prays to Sai Baba to grant discrimination between the eternal and temporary, highlighting the Guru's role in guiding the disciple's intellect inward and away from the false logic that keeps one trapped in nescience, as emphasized throughout the philosophical portions of Chapter 26.