Acharya Prashant addresses the dilemma of whether a seeker needs a living spiritual guru or if sacred texts are sufficient. He explains that while a guide is necessary, one must be skeptical of accepting any person as an absolute authority. A true teacher is merely a medium for the truth, and their value exists only as long as they remain a transparent channel. He warns against 'celebrity gurus' who offer their personalities and glamour rather than the truth. He emphasizes that unconditional surrender should only be reserved for the absolute, and devotion to a person must remain conditional on their alignment with the truth. Regarding texts, Acharya Prashant notes that they are safer and more objective than living gurus because they lack malicious intent and personal ego. However, texts have limitations; they cannot read a student's face, offer personal affection, or provide direct admonishment. He suggests starting with time-tested books to build an 'armor of wisdom' before seeking personal guidance. This foundation helps a seeker identify fake gurus. He concludes that while books are preferable if one must choose, the ideal approach is to use both concurrently or sequentially, ensuring that the central inquiry remains 'Who am I?' and focusing on the root cause of all problems rather than superficial symptoms.