Did Baba's Guru give him a mantra? How did the Guru provide instruction and protection instead?

Baba explicitly states in Chapter 19 that his Guru did not give him a mantra. When a devotee asks him for one, he replies, 'my Guru did not blow any mantra into my ears, so how can I blow one into yours?' Instead of verbal instruction, Baba's Guru provided protection and nourishment through his constant, loving gaze. Baba compares this to a mother tortoise who, from one riverbank, feeds her young on the other side with her sight alone. This 'merciful glance' was the source of Baba's contentment and safety, demonstrating that the Guru's grace can be transmitted silently and powerfully through focused, loving attention.