Yes, it’s interesting. In the discussion with Rahula K attempts an answer to this question several times over:
‘A’ is of that stream, ‘A’ is suffering, ‘A’ says, ‘Why?… Why is there suffering?’ In the very enquiry of it - the enquiry depends on your capacity to put aside interpretation, not escape and all the rest of it - in the very enquiry into the nature of suffering and the cause of it, and the effect of it and so on, in that very enquiry is insight, comes insight. Insight isn’t in the stream.….
‘A’ is suffering…. ‘A’ begins to enquire… in his enquiry he realises enquiry can only exist when there’s complete freedom from all escapes, suppression and all the rest of it…. So in that moment of enquiry there is insight, when he doesn’t escape, when he doesn’t suppress, when he doesn’t rationalise or seek the cause of suffering, in that very moment of examining, is insight….
'A’ is of that stream… And as he lives he realises what he’s going through. Right? In that realisation he says, ‘I’m suffering.’ Then he begins to enquire into the whole nature of suffering, and ends that suffering. I’m taking one aspect of this stream. Ends that suffering. And he is out of that stream. That entity is really unique, who is out of that stream….
The moment ‘A’ realises that he’s suffering, and doesn’t escape from that suffering - enquires, explores without any motive and so on, so on into the nature of suffering, and has an insight into the whole structure of suffering, that very insight ends that suffering.….
That stream has manifested itself in ‘A’. ‘A’ living, realises he’s suffering, he doesn’t escape from it, because he wants to know the whole nature of it, the nature and the structure and what is behind suffering. So he examines it, both logically, sanely and also non-verbally. Looks into it. And the very looking into it is the insight. It’s not of the stream, the looking into the suffering….
Why is there suffering? In the very enquiry of it - the enquiry depends on your capacity to put aside interpretation, not escape and all the rest of it - in the very enquiry into the nature of suffering and the cause of it, and the effect of it and so on, in that very enquiry is insight, comes insight. Insight isn’t in the stream….
N: Where does it come from, insight, then?
K: I’m telling you.
N: From enquiry.
K: From the freedom to enquire….
‘A’ is part of that stream, ‘A’ is the manifestation of that stream, a wave of that stream, or whatever you like to call it. Now ‘A’ is going through agony. ‘A’ examines it. And the examination is very important, because if he escapes it is not examination, not exploration. If he suppresses, it’s not. So he realises - please follow this step by step - that as long as he’s not free from the blockages that prevent exploration, and therefore he puts them aside, he’s free to enquire. And in that freedom is insight….
‘A’ is a manifestation of that stream. ‘A’ is suffering. ‘A’ says, ‘Why am I suffering?’ Studies Buddhism, studies Hinduism, studies Christianity, and says, ‘For God’s sake, that’s words - out. I’m going to find out myself.’ And he begins to enquire. And he realises he can only explore if he’s free to look. Right? Free from fear, free from reward and punishment, free from any kind of motive, otherwise he can’t enquire. The moment he’s in that state of examination, there is insight.
So, in a moment of true enquiry (free from “blockages”, “interpretation”, “escape”, “motives”, etc), K is saying there can be insight.
Yes. That human being - who is no longer part of the stream (of suffering, etc) - would be unique.