Enlightenment is not really that difficult to realize. First we need to clearly understand "What is Enlightenment?".
Advaita Vedanta uses a Sanskrit term “Jagat” which includes this world, the body, the mind and the thoughts. All the observable, knowable things are Jagat. Advaita calls this Jagat as Anatman (Not-Self). The observer or the knower is Atman (Self).
We are normally associated with this Jagat and hence are called Jiva which is existing as limited individual Self. When we let go of our attachment with Jagat then we lose our individuality and we could start identifying ourselves with the infinite, eternal, Atman (Self).
Enlightenment is the knowledge gained by the experience of existing as Pure Consciousness. The Advaita scholar, Yellamraju Srinivasa Rao very nicely explains about this experience in one of his web pages on Aparoksha Anubhuti (Direct Experience).
Please note the first two lines where he nicely explains Not-Self and Self.
Please note another beautiful sentence “Every knowledge may not be an experience. But every experience is knowledge”. Knowledge gained by hearing to a Guru or by reading scriptures can only give Paroksha Jnana (Indirect Knowledge). This is knowledge but not an experience. It is very important to understand this because some imbeciles believe that this bookish and theoretical knowledge is itself enough. Intensely practicing what has been learnt which is “existing” or “being” as Pure Consciousness can give Aparoksha Anubhuti (Direct Experience).
Existing as pure concentrating entity without any thoughts seems like a difficult task. But it is not really so. For example when a tennis player is watching the ball like a hawk what does he exist as? A pure concentrating entity. What happened to his Jagat which includes this world, the body, the mind and the thoughts? The entire Jagat vanished and during that moment the player existed as nameless, formless, concentrating entity or Pure Consciousness or Pure Awareness, concentrating on the ball and without any other thoughts. This should be clearly grasped.
Whenever we are intensely concentrating with 100% Concentration then we exist as a pure concentrating entity such as while watching a movie, watching sports, playing sports, reading something interesting, listening ardently to a music we like, etc. During those moments when we are in single pointed concentration, the Jagat vanishes, we lose our individuality and we exist as Pure Consciousness or Pure Concentrating Entity.
Another great example is when counting a bundle of currency everyone is in 100% single pointed concentration and at that moment one exists as a nameless, formless, Pure Concentrating Entity or Pure Consciousness or Awareness. The Jagat mentioned above vanishes as there are no other thoughts and consciousness of body is also not there.
In existing as a 100% Concentrating Entity and losing individuality there is an inherent joy. Otherwise one would not indulge in activities like watching movies, sports, etc. But this joy is only temporary and lasts only during the duration of that particular activity. What Advaita is advocating is why one can’t be in this permanent state of joy all the time?
So the task is to exist as Pure Consciousness without any external help such as a movie or sport. Our mind is incessantly engaged in various thoughts due to our ego-self and self-centered nature. Even though we are bothered by innumerous thoughts, fortunately mind can be engaged in only one thought at any given moment. We can take advantage of this nature of the mind and try to be in a single thought that “I am a concentrating entity” or “I am Consciousness” or “I am Atman”. Ramana Maharshi calls this “I” thought as no thought and instead calls it as being in Self-Attention. When distracted by other thoughts, please gently come back to this single thought and concentrate fully that we are nothing but Awareness or Consciousness. Initially this contemplation / meditation could be for just 10 minutes, then gradually increase it to 30 minutes and as long as possible. This meditation could be practiced with eyes closed or eyes open. The objective is to just remain in the single thought “I am Awareness” and this could be practiced anytime even while walking, sitting, waiting, travelling, etc.
The inner deeper meaning of all Indian Gods and Goddesses such as Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu is to remind us to identify ourselves with the eternal Atman.
The actual meditation which is simpler and easier to practice, I have described as part of my answer to the question How can I attain self-realization according to Ramana Maharshi?
Ramana Maharshi said Enlightenment can be had “Here and Now”. All the Gurus such as Sankara, Vidyaranya, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, etc. have emphasised repeatedly that Enlightenment can be had in this very life. It is a great disrespect to all the Gurus and Scriptures if we don’t heed to their advise and have our own false opinion that Enlightenment is not for me, it can be had by only few great persons.
If the practice is sincere then with an unwavering Single Pointed Concentration (Chitta Ekagratha) and a burning desire (Mumukshutva) for enlightenment then the Enlightenment will happen, Self-Realization will be attained and the knowledge gained from the Direct Experience of existing as “I am Consciousness” will become permanent.
Once the Self-Realization happens the knowledge gained remains permanently and the Avidya (ignorance) is removed forever and one instantaneously attains Moksha. For more on Moksha please read my answer to the question “What is Moksha?”
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