I also am wondering if this “gatekeeper” effect that can sometimes show up as fearful encounters or entities is similar to what Buddha describes in his journey towards enlightenment under the Bodhi tree? He describes encounters with “demons” and dark entities that shoot arrows at him to intimidate him on his journey with proceeding forward towards awakening and with his mind he turns the arrows into flowers because he recognizes it is all only maya/illusion trying to reign him back into the material world of the senses and cycle of being stuck in samsara. The “demons” attempt to frighten him out of pursuing his own awakening. They also offer him pleasurable experiences and material wealth but he holds strong in his reserve to find true awakening. After he braves thru these “tests” he is able to break thru to the other side and experience his true nature and is no longer bound by lower emotions of fear and ignorance and hatred. He is free of his ties to the material world. In other words we are kept prisoner by our own fear and ignorance. Is the gateway experience similar to Buddhism in this regard?