Does a guru need to be fully enlightened?

The question came up during my conversations with a friend. The short answer to the question is "No". It is the same as asking, does an elementary school teacher have to have a Ph.D.?

The knowers of the Truth have declared in the scriptures that the only purpose of the human birth is to know the Self or Brahman or God or in other words become self realized. They have also shown us various paths leading to the same goal. One is to choose a path according to one's tendencies or liking. A full knower of the Brahman or Self or God is one who realizes that there is nothing but Sat-Chit-Anand or the Existence-Consciousness-Bliss and always abides in that state of consciousness. Those who have fully reached the goal, they have reached the non-dual state and they have no one in that state to teach. Those who have come to get a glimpse of the non-dual state, strive to share the knowledge with others so that others may attain that state. Then there are those advanced aspirants, who have made significant spiritual advancement or progress in following a particular path and want to teach less advanced aspirants. There is nothing wrong in learning from them about the path and practice. The world is filled with such Gurus. A neophyte in the spiritual path can potentially benefit much from such Gurus and does not need to seek out a fully enlightened Himalayan Master.