Knowledge can be transmitted in many ways. Through words, through experiences and through movies/media.

However, when you are face to face  with a teacher – you not only gain the ‘textual knowledge’, you get a glimpse of the Universe as understood by the teacher. That experience is not something that can be conveyed through words – or any other means. It can only be conveyed through being in the same space as the teacher.

All of the learnings of the teacher color the way they experience and see the Universe. That is what you get a glimpse of when you are in the same room as the teacher.