Scientifically speaking, have we talked about the evolutionary advantage behind altered states of conscious?

Is this enlightenment thing legit?

Here is what I want to do to find out.
Apparently it is possible to become enlightened through great pain, that is how the buddha originally did it. I have tried torturing myself before for enlightenment (by sitting still for long periods of time) to the point of almost passing out from the pain. I chicken out thought when the pain gets too intense.

How do I torture myself so that:
1) I don't actually hurt myself
2) It's not possible for me to stop until a set period of time