The Egg (MK53)

KOAN:

When Qiyuan Xinggang had a profound opening, her teacher asked,
“What was it like when you were gestating the spiritual embryo?”
She replied, “It solidified, deep and solitary.”
“When you gave birth, what was that like?”
“Being stripped completely bare.”
“What about when you met the Ancestor?”
“I met the Ancestor face to face.”

—PZI Miscellaneous Koans, Case 53 (adapted from Hidden Lamp, transl. Beata Grant)