First let $L^{\bullet}$ be a pro-nilpotent differential graded Lie algebra (dgla). We have the set of Maurer-Cartan elements in $L^{\bullet}$ ($MC(L^{\bullet})$) which are $\alpha \in L^1$ such that it satisfies the Maurer-Cartan equation
$$
\partial \alpha+ \frac{1}{2}[\alpha,\alpha]=0.
$$
We have a definition of gauge equivalance: $\alpha\_0,\alpha\_1\in MC(L^{\bullet})$ are called gauge equivalent if and only if there exists a $\xi \in L^0$ such that
$$
e^{\text{ad}\xi}\circ(\partial +\text{ad}\alpha\_0)\circ e^{-\text{ad}\xi}=\partial +\text{ad}\alpha\_1
$$
or in other words
$$
e^{\text{ad}\xi}\alpha\_0-\frac{e^{\text{ad}\xi}-1}{\text{ad}\xi}\partial\xi=\alpha\_1.
$$
From the first definition it is easy to see that gauge equivalence is really an equivalent relation. From the second definition we can define a path between $\alpha\_0$ and $\alpha\_1$. Let
$$
\alpha(t)=e^{t\text{ad}\xi}\alpha\_0-\frac{e^{t\text{ad}\xi}-1}{\text{ad}\xi}\partial\xi.
$$
Then $\alpha(t)$ is a power series of $t$ in $L^{\bullet}$, $\alpha(0)=\alpha\_0$, $\alpha(1)=\alpha\_1$ and we can prove $\partial\alpha(t)+ \frac{1}{2}[\alpha(t),\alpha(t)]=0.$


Now we come to $L\_{\infty}$ algebra $L^{\bullet}$ with higher bracket $[\cdot,\ldots,\cdot]\_n$ with $n$ auguments. We still have Maurer-Cartan elements in $ L^{\bullet} $ ( $MC(L^{\bullet})$) which are $ \alpha \in L^1$ such that it satisfies the Maurer-Cartan equation
$$
\partial \alpha+ \sum \frac{1}{k!}[\alpha,\ldots,\alpha]\_k=0.
$$


My question is how to define equivalence of Maurer-Cartan elements in $ L^{\bullet} $? 


Of course we can define $\alpha\_0,\alpha\_1\in MC(L^{\bullet})$ are "equivalent" if and only if there exists a power series $\alpha(t)\in L^{\bullet}$ such that $\alpha(0)=\alpha\_0$, $\alpha(1)=\alpha\_1$ and $\alpha(t)$ satisfies the $L\_{\infty}$ Maurer-Cartan equation. However, it is difficult to show that this is an equivalent relation, for example, how to connect two paths?


It seems that a generalization of gauge equivalence is what we want. But $e^{\text{ad}\xi}$ is not enough since we have higher bracket.



How to define the equivalence of Maurer-Cartan elements in an $L_{\infty}$-algebra?
To add a bit to what Damien says, addressing your question on how to generalise the gauge approach (which is equivalent to the approach outlined by Damien, as proved by several people):


You can view gauge symmetries in DGLAs via solving the differential equation
 $$
\frac{d\alpha}{dt}=-\partial\xi-[\alpha,\xi],
 $$
where $\xi$ is the given element of degree $0$. This generalises to homotopy Lie algebras as follows: consider the differential equation
 $$
\frac{d\alpha}{dt}=-\partial\xi-[\alpha,\xi]-\frac12[\alpha,\alpha,\xi]-\ldots-\frac{1}{p!}[\underbrace{\alpha,\ldots,\alpha,}\_{p \text{ times}}\xi]\_{p+1}-\ldots,
 $$
where the right hand side is simply the negative of $[\xi]\_1^\alpha$, the first structure map of the twisted Lie-infinity structure
 $$
[x\_1,\ldots,x\_k]\_k^\alpha:=\sum\_{p\ge0}\frac{1}{p!}[\underbrace{\alpha,\ldots,\alpha,}\_{p \text{ times}}x\_1,\ldots,x\_k]\_{k+p}.
 $$
From that it is almost obvious that moving along the integral curves of this equation preserves the property of being Maurer--Cartan, since the Maurer--Cartan condition for $\alpha+\beta$, where $\alpha$ is a Maurer--Cartan element, and $\beta$ is infinitesimal becomes
 $$
\partial\beta+[\alpha,\beta]+\frac12[\alpha,\alpha,\beta]+\ldots+\frac{1}{p!}[\underbrace{\alpha,\ldots,\alpha,}\_{p \text{ times}}\beta]\_{p+1}+\ldots,
 $$
that is $[\beta]\_1^\alpha=0$, and so $\beta=[\xi]\_1^\alpha$ satisfies that, $[\cdot]\_1^\alpha$ being a differential of the twisted structure. This circle of ideas is explained in many places, one important reference is ``Lie theory for nilpotent $L\\_\infty$-algebras'' by Ezra Getzler (Ann. of Math. (2) 170 (2009), no. 1, 271--301.).


