Trees have long played a dual role in many indigenous and rural communities in India—as vital physical resources and as spiritual, ecological teachers. Rooted in oral traditions, rituals, and agroecological practices, trees like neem, peepal, banyan, and tamarind serve as vessels for transmitting Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) across generations. This article explores the cultural and educational significance of these trees, investigating how they function as "teachers" by offering insights into sustainability, biodiversity, weather forecasting, and communal well-being. Drawing on literature review, case studies, and field-based research, the study underscores the urgent need to preserve and integrate tree-based ecological knowledge into formal education and environmental policymaking. The findings highlight trees not just as natural entities, but as living archives of ecological wisdom shaped by deep-rooted community engagement.