It is simple... as long as you don't complicate it. If you let your thoughts come and go freely, without clinging, and live in the current moment, then you have the two factors that are necessary to reach enlightenment. The current moment is where you will be completely stress-free, happy and content.

If you can remember when you were just a tot, or if you observe the little ones playing, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. All the focus is right on the current moment. So what happened to you over time? Was it because of additional stress and responsibility? That is what you were taught. It does appear that way, but it's not the reason.

What really happened was, your focus changed, adding memories from the past, and adding dreams and desires for the future. Your clinging to those thoughts intensified. All these habits formed a world and life that wasn't okay as it was, and that needed to be changed. Every time you had pleasure of one or more of your senses, you wanted to repeat it. That reinforced your belief that you had to have those pleasures to be happy and feel good.

What you didn't know, and what you weren't taught, was that there was pleasure beyond your senses. Like the pleasure of peace and tranquility, living without stress. It is pleasure that you don't need to cling to, and that never fades away. Unlike pleasure of the senses, you don't have to keep chasing after more of what you crave.

Enlightenment is not to be found in your senses, but beyond. The only way that you will know for yourself, is to be willing to let go of your senses. If you smell something delightful, enjoy it and let it go. If you taste something good, enjoy it and let it go. If you see, hear or touch something you like, enjoy it and let it go. You do this by remaining focused in the moment. Let go of all your thoughts and feelings.

The current moment is perfect just the way it is, and that is why it is so peaceful, without stress. That is where your path to enlightenment ends... right where it began.

Note that the seven factors for enlightenment, taught by The Buddha, must first be put into practice. They are Mindfulness, Analysis of qualities, Persistence, Rapture, Serenity, Concentration and Equanimity. The two factors, I've referred to in this post, are the result or culmination of those seven factors.