Acharya Prashant clarifies that closeness to a teacher is not merely about physical proximity, but about understanding the essence of the teachings. He uses the analogy of a book, explaining that while the physical paper and ink are material, they are tremendously important because they convey something beyond themselves. One must respect the material form of the teachings while recognizing that the true essence is not the material. He explains that there are two aspects to the guru: the manifest and the unmanifest. To the extent that a student identifies as a body-mind, the manifest or physical teacher is necessary and must be respected. He emphasizes a balanced perspective where one should not become overly attached to the physical form of the teacher, as all physical forms are subject to disappearance and error. However, one must also not treat the teacher casually. Quoting Kabir Saheb, he warns that those who perceive the teacher as merely a man are blind and will suffer in the world. The teacher is described as the ultimate medicine; if one is resistant to this final remedy, there is no hope for them. Therefore, a student must be truly prepared before approaching a teacher. Acharya Prashant further illustrates this with the analogy of a letter, where the postman, the envelope, the paper, and the sender all hold specific importance. If any of these elements are ignored, the message will not reach the recipient. Similarly, while the physical teacher is human and prone to errors, they are the only hope for the student to receive the message from the unmanifest. The student must understand the due importance of each aspect—the physical medium and the source—to truly benefit from the teachings.
