If a practitioner feels inner peace after a period of cultivation, can this be considered enlightenment?

There are those who practice meditation diligently and persistently, gradually cultivating a mind of peace and stability. As their inner turbulence subsides, they experience a profound sense of fulfillment, believing they have entered the sublime palace of meditation, realized their true nature, and even attained enlightenment. For countless lifetimes, they have wandered aimlessly through the vast forest of samsara, searching for liberation.

Now, for the first time, they find themselves leaning against the fortress wall. With their minds no longer battered by the storms and hardships of delusion, they feel an overwhelming sense of joy and contentment, as if they have finally arrived home. Such individuals may even express profound insights and make grand proclamations, convinced they have reached the ultimate goal.

However, in truth, they are merely resting against the outer wall, unaware that they must search for the gate to enter the palace. No matter how many lifetimes pass, they will remain outside the gates, never truly entering the depths of meditative absorption, unless they find the palace gate.