Enlightenment is a state of being completely free from lust (raga), hatred (dosa) and delusion (moha). In the western world the concept of  Enlightenment has taken on a romantic meaning.

It has become synonymous with self-realization and the true self and false self, being regarded as a substantial essence being covered over by social conditioning.

Someone who is awakened has gained insight into the workings of the mind which keeps us imprisoned in craving, suffering and rebirth, and has also gained insight into the way that leads to nirvana.

The liberation of oneself from this imprisonment, insight into our true nature, which is empty of a personal essence in the stream of experience.

But it also refers to the Buddha-nature, the essential basic-Consciousness beyond the stream of experience.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha. As Siddhartha, he renounced his family at the age of 29 and travelled and meditated in search of truth.

After practicing self-mortification for six years at Urubela (Buddhagaya) in Gaya, he gave up that practice because it did not give him Vimukthi.

Then he discovered Noble Eight-fold path without help from anyone and practiced it, then he attained Buddhatva or enlightenment.

I have given up extremes of either luxury or asceticism. I have discovered the Middle Way.