March 17th, 2010 . Posted in Gateless
Gate, Mumonkan | No
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Tags: 100 FOOT
HIGH POLE, PROCEED
Master Sekiso said, “You are at the top of the 100 foot high
pole. How will you make a step further?” Another Zen Master of
Ancient Times said, “One who sits on top of the 100 foot pole has
not quite attained true enlightenment. Make another step forward
from the top of the pole and throw one’s own body into the 100,000
universes.”
Should there be any who is able to step forward from the top of
the 100 foot pole and hurl one’s whole body into the entire
universe, this person may call oneself a Buddha. Nevertheless, how
can one step forward from the top of the 100 foot pole? Know
thyself!
Should one be content and settle on top of the 100,000 foot
pole,
One will harm the third eye,
And will even misread the marks on the scale.
Should one throw oneself and be able to renounce one’s life,
Like one blind person leading all other blind persons,
One will be in absolute freedom (unattached from the eyes).