There are two kinds of knowledge—mental knowledge such as you describe here which is usually necessary as a mental preparation or for guidance and the real knowledge which is spiritual. One receives the mental knowledge from the Guru in the shape of instruction and guidance, but that is only a part of what he gives—for the man who gives only mental or what you call indirect knowledge is not a Guru but only a teacher, Acharya.
As for spiritual knowledge, it consists of two elements, experience and a direct knowledge which is not mental but is of the nature of a light showing the deeper truth of things, a direct vision and perception of the Truth.
[Sri Aurobindo: Letters on Yoga]
