How did Sai Baba describe his relationship with his own Guru? Did he ever receive a secret mantra?

Sai Baba described a profound and loving relationship with his Guru, whom he served for twelve years. As detailed in Chapter 19, Baba had a strong desire to receive a secret mantra, or 'ear-mantra,' from his Guru but was never given one. Instead, the connection was one of immense, non-verbal love and contemplation. Baba would gaze at his Guru's face day and night, feeling neither hunger nor thirst, and his Guru protected him with a 'merciful glance.' Baba described his Guru as an 'ocean of mercy' and a 'veritable idol of devotion and love,' emphasizing that the Guru's loving gaze was the source of all nourishment and protection, making a spoken mantra unnecessary.