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.

Three Gates of Hell or Narka

In Hinduism narka is defined as a place without the light of God. Anyone who is not enlightened is said to be in the narka and the ones who are enlightened are said to be in the Light. In absolute sense those who are enlightened and those who are not enlightened are in Brahman as there is nothing else that exists but Brahman. However, those who are not enlightened are tricked to think they are in narka or hell while those who are enlightened are situated in reality and have transcended the influence of Maha Maya or the inherent Great Illusory Potency of Brahman. The topic is about those who are not enlightened. In Srimad Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna says that there are three gates to hell or in other words, there are three things that keep us plunged in darkness or in the unenlightened state. The three gates of hell are described as kama (sensual desire), krodha (anger), and lobha (greed). If we want enlightenment, then we must forsake these three evils at once. Kama or sensual desire arises from contemplation of sense objects. When our buddhi or intelligence or power of discrimination (to tell right from wrong) is not aligned with God, we contemplate and engage in pursuing sensual desires. The more we contemplate on a sense object, the stronger becomes the urge or desire within us to attain it. If we are able to attain it, then lobha or greed arises and drives us to have more of it or a better versions of it. If our desire does not get fulfilled then krodha or anger arises. We get frustrated. Since greed is an insatiable fire, it will lead us to a point where we cannot fulfill desires anymore even in spite of going to great lengths to do so. Kama or desire leads to krodha or anger which leads to loss of memory. We temporarily forget that what we are doing will lead to bad consequence due to temporary loss of memory. Loss of memory leads to loss of intelligence. Once we loose intelligence we keep doing the same mistake over and over again and get more and more away from God and become more and more bound to the unenlightened state.

Therefore, we must at once make an effort to curb and ultimately eliminate kama, krodha, and lobha. Sensual desires create a stormy mind and steal away the peace. Cessation of sensual desire bring about ultimate peace of mind. Gaining complete mastery over sensual desire is easier said than done. However, there are powerful spiritual practices that can induce the state of pratyahar (dispassion). These practices are to be learned from a spiritual master or sadguru. Dispassion or disinterest for worldly things is an important step in the path of self realization.