No Guru Required

Is it necessary to be in the presence of a teacher, in order for them to “transmit” what is being pointed to?

All of the appearance is totally imaginary and non-existent. So it is only a story one has about some "other" who is "realized" and how that can rub off on you, when in reality, there is no other, and you can not be "realized." There is only awareness, and while all objects, people, and concepts (like realization) appear to be something of substance, they are not. So anything you gain in that "appearance" world, like realizing something upon being in the presence of someone, is subject to change. You'll find a week later, "Hey, I lost it!" and the search starts all over again.

So the only way to get out of the cycle is to know that you are not any of those objects, but that you are only the awareness within which it all appears to take place. As that awareness, the objects, people, and concepts have no relation to you, and realization or awakening is just an idea that comes from this imaginary trash-heap of dead concepts. The living you is right now, fresh, and has no ideas or concepts at all within it. You are totally free. So you see, there is no need to awaken!

You may have a strong experience in the presence of someone sharing this message; in the appearance, all kinds of unwarranted boons occur. And then unwarranted disaster follows, always, in some way, shape or form. So why bother with any of it? The world of actions, feelings, successes, gains, and transmissions is 100% false, and although it feels real, and so we tend to want to fix "it," and make it feel better, this is impossible to do. It will only feel better temporarily. The only way out is all the way out. You are nothing within that dream, and none of it can help you. You are the pure awareness -- the only thing you know for sure right now. Just here, aware, being, knowing. You!

I didn't answer the question, did I? I don't want to leave that escape route open for your mind to grab onto, that route of "When I meet someone in person, then it will happen," by pretending there is any validity to the question. There is no validity to the question, and my job is to close the escape routes and point out to you that this awareness is all there is, literally, not as a cute metaphor. The world and making things happen in it will never help you. Just stay with what you know, this knowing that is present and clear. There is simply never anything in the "future" that needs to happen. There's no fixing to be done. This being here right now, clear of concepts, clear of everything, is it. You already have what you’re looking for.