The effect of holy company is infallible; it may come immediately or after a period of time. Those who came in contact with Brahmananda experienced a definite change in their lives. Brahmananda reminded the devotees: “The holy company you keep, the spiritual talk you hear, all make an impression on your mind. In the course of time you will realize the effects of these things and the momentous changes that they will bring about in your life. A bumble-bee hiding in a fragrant flower offered in the worship touches the feet of the Lord. Similarly, by the grace and association of a holy man, one surpasses even the gods and attains liberation.”
A real guru sometimes teaches through silence. Once Swami Satprakashananda came from Dhaka to see Brahmananda at Udbodhan. He bowed down to Maharaj and sat at his feet. Dhirananda (Maharaj’s attendant) introduced him to Maharaj, saying, “He has some questions.” Maharaj looked at him graciously and said, “You have seen a holy man, have bowed down to him and touched his feet, what more questions can there be?” Satprakashananda wrote, “Evidently he meant that this was enough to solve my problems and remove all doubts and difficulties from within.”
Maharaj once told Swami Prabhavananda: “There are times when it becomes impossible for me to teach anyone. No matter where I look, I see only God wearing many masks. Who am I, the teacher? Who is to be taught? How can God teach God? But when my mind comes down again to a lower level, I see the ignorance in man and I try to remove it.” (Source: God Lived with Them)