How difficult is it to attain enlightenment? Story of Kacha
Young Kacha, the son of Brihaspati was wager to attain liberation from Samsara, he went up to his all knowing father and asked: "O My father, you know everything, please tell me how can I free myself from this cage of Samsara."
"Liberation from this prison of Samsara is possible only by total renunciation my son." said the Deva Guru Brihaspati.
Hearing those words of his father, Kacha renounced his worldly life, left his house, friends, belongings everything and went to the forest. He spent his time in seclusion and austerities for the next eight years.
He went to see his father and asked "Father, I renounced everything and performed austerities for eight years, Why have I not yet attained the supreme state."
Brihaspati repeated the same line he uttered the first time- "Renounce everything." and went away.
Kacha thought for a minute, he thought he understand his father's cryptic words, went to the forest, renounced even his clothes and the stick he used for walking. He continued his penance for 3 more years, after that he againsaught the help of his father.
Worshipping him duly, as fit for a guru, he asked "Father, I have renounced even my clothes and sticks. I have not still gained self-knowledge."
Brihaspati, clarified, "By total renunciation, I mean of the mind, for mind is all. Reninciation of the mind is total renunciation." and then vanished from the sight, leaving kacha to introspect.
Kacha looked within to find where this mind is, so that he could renounce it. No matter how much he looked, he couldn't find it. So he reasoned "Body cannot be regarded as mind, there is no use to torturing it. Let me ask about the whereabouts of the mind from my father."
So he went to his father again and asked "Please tell me what the mind is, so that I can renounce it."
Brihaspati smiled and answered, "Those who know the mind say that the mind is the 'I', the egosense that arises within you."
"but that is difficult, if not impossible " said Kacha
Brihaspati replied: "On the other hand, it is easier than crushing a flower which is already in your hand, easier than closing your eyes. Just like darkness vanishes when sun comes up, ignorances vanishes at the dawn of knowledge. Give-up self-limitation and psychological conditioning, you are the pure consciousness itself."
Enlightenment could be the most difficult thing in the world or as easy as crushing a flower, it all depends on your alignment. If you see the shadows, turn around, you'll see the sun.