Amarth

This post is kind of funny. I'm sure if you said this to someone who actually /was/ an authority on the issue, they'd slap you silly. I'm not talking about a scholar type figure, I'm talking about a monk type one. People spend their entire lives doing nothing /but/ seeking enlightenment, so I doubt it's very plausable to casually find it. I'm trying not to be mean since I can't know that much about you just by reading this post, but this question does irk me a bit. However, I wish you the best of luck on your quest. (*Sigh* I guess the fact that your quest caused anger in me doesn't say much for my own mental discipline.)

Now, for a little bit of what I think you may be looking for. I've stolen most of this from a book called "The way of the peaceful warrior." It's an awesome book and one of those ones that could change your life, so I definately reccomend reading it.

Back to the topic.

For one thing, as many people have said, empty your mind. Most of what I've read on the topic parallels enlightenment with the idea of satori. Satori is simply turning down your mental volume to the point of muting it. Shut your head up.

Also, discipline is important. It's not that discipline in itself is the key to enlightenment, but through discipline you can learn to separate what is truly important from that which seems important. I reccomend quitting all drug type habits and trying a strict diet and excercise regiment.

Mediation is important. Everyone else has spoken plenty on that though.

Literature is not in itself the answer, but it can guide you. Think if I wanted you to look at the moon. I would point to the moon and you would first look at my finger. Then, you could follow it, and eventually look at the moon for yourself. I've always loved this analogy.

For what enlghtenment is, I have a very good story:
A man had been seeking enlightenment for many decades. He had learned much and felt he was almost there, but he still didn't know exactly what enlightenment was. One day, he was walking through the woods and saw a hermit walking along carrying two buckets of water tied to each end of a long rod across his back. Somehow the man knew that this hermit had the answers he needed. He approached him. "Um excuse me sir, but could you tell me what enlightenment is like?" The hermit put down the weight of his water and stood to his full height, unburdened. The man burst into tears of joy and exlaimed "Yes! I get it now! Thank you kind sir! One more quick question... what is life like after enlightenment?" The hermit picked his water back up, and continued his journey down the trail. (Okay, I'm sure I didn't tell it exactly right, but I think you'll get the just of it.)