Case 16 of The Blue Cliff Record – Breaking in and Breaking Out by Subhana recorded at the 2010 Autumn Sesshin at Kodoji

The Koan

A monk asked Ching Ch’ing, “I am breaking out, I ask the Teacher to break in.”

Ching Ch’ing said “Can you live or not?”

The monk said, “If I weren’t alive, I’d be laughed at by people.”

Ching Ch’ing said, “You too are a man in the weeds.”