At the top of a hundred-foot pole, how do you take the next step?

What it means

You have climbed as high as the pole goes, and the master asks for one more step. Every achievement becomes a new edge to step off. Don't settle on the summit you already reached.

The source

"At the top of a hundred-foot pole, how do you take the next step?" Shishuang said it in Wumenguan 46. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

"石霜和尚云。百尺竿頭如何進步。"

Original Chinese, Wumenguan 46. Text read at zh.wikisource.org.

Who said it

The Zen masters (6th–13th century). Bodhidharma, Huineng, Linji, Zhaozhou, Yunmen, Wumen and Dogen: the Chan and Zen teachers whose sayings, koans and records shaped the school of sudden awakening. Our lines are translated from the Chinese and Japanese originals.

Questions

What does "At the top of a hundred-foot pole, how do you take the next step?" mean?

You have climbed as high as the pole goes, and the master asks for one more step. Every achievement becomes a new edge to step off. Don't settle on the summit you already reached.

Who said "At the top of a hundred-foot pole, how do you take the next step?"?

Shishuang (6th–13th century). Source: Wumenguan 46.

What is the original Chinese?

石霜和尚云。百尺竿頭如何進步。. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

Is "At the top of a hundred-foot pole, how do you take the next step?" on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"At the top of a hundred-foot pole, how do you take the next step?" (Shishuang, Wumenguan 46, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/at-the-top-of-a-hundred-foot-pole