百丈竿头 bǎi zhàng gān tóu hundred-zhang pole

Explanation

比喻到达很高的境界或成就，但仍需继续努力，不能满足现状。也比喻修行已到很高境界。

It refers to reaching a very high level or achievement, but still needs to continue to work hard, can not be satisfied with the status quo. It also refers to the achievement of a high level in spiritual practice.

Origin Story

话说宋朝时期，长沙有一位德高望重的高僧景岑禅师，他禅学造诣极深，常云游各地弘法利生。一日，景岑禅师来到一座寺庙，寺中长老与他探讨佛法，长老说道：‘禅师，弟子修行多年，已臻化境，可还有更高的境界？’景岑禅师微微一笑，念诵了一首偈语：‘百丈竿头须进步，十方世界是全身。’长老听后，深感启发，顿悟到即使达到很高的境界，仍需不断精进，方能到达更高的境界，最终成就佛陀般伟大的觉悟。从此，长老更加精勤修持，不断突破自我，最终证得阿罗汉果位。这故事便成为禅宗的经典案例，告诫修行者要永不止步，不断攀登佛法的巅峰。

huà shuō sòng cháo shí qī, cháng shā yǒu yī wèi dé gāo wàng zhòng de gāo sēng jǐng cén chán shī, tā chán xué zào yì jí shēn, cháng yún yóu gè dì hóng fǎ lì shēng. yī rì, jǐng cén chán shī lái dào yī zuò sì miào, sì zhōng lǎo zhǎng yǔ tā tǎo lùn fó fǎ, lǎo zhǎng shuō dào: ‘chán shī, dì zǐ xiū xíng duō nián, yǐ zhēn huà jìng, kě hái yǒu gèng gāo de jìng jiè? ’ jǐng cén chán shī wēi wēi yī xiào, niàn sòng le yī shǒu jì yǔ: ‘bǎi zhàng gān tóu xū jìn bù, shí fāng shì jiè shì quán shēn。’ lǎo zhǎng tīng hòu, shēn gǎn qǐ fā, dùn wù dào jí shǐ dá dào hěn gāo de jìng jiè, réng xū bù duàn jīng jìn, fāng néng dá dào gèng gāo de jìng jiè, zuì zhōng chéng jiù fó tuó bān wèi dà de jué wù。cóng cǐ, lǎo zhǎng gèng jiā jīng qín xiū chí, bù duàn tū pò zì wǒ, zuì zhōng zhèng dé ā luó hàn guǒ wèi。zhè gù shì biàn chéng wéi chán zōng de jīng diǎn àn lì, gào jiè xiū xíng zhě yào yǒng bù zhǐ bù, bù duàn pān dēng fó fǎ de dīng fēng.

It is said that during the Song Dynasty, there was a highly respected monk named Jingcen in Changsha, who had a deep understanding of Zen Buddhism and often traveled around to spread the Dharma. One day, Jingcen came to a temple, where the elder discussed Buddhism with him, and the elder said: 'Master, I have practiced for many years and have already reached a high level, but is there a higher level?' Jingcen smiled slightly and recited a poem: 'On the hundred-zhang pole, one must make progress, the ten directions of the world are the whole body.' After hearing this, the elder was deeply inspired and realized that even if he reached a high level, he still needed to continue to make progress in order to reach a higher level, and finally achieve the great awakening of Buddha. From then on, the elder practiced more diligently and continuously broke through himself, eventually attaining the Arhat fruit position. This story became a classic example in Zen Buddhism, warning practitioners to never stop and continuously climb the peak of Buddhism.

Usage

多用于比喻人的技艺、修行等已达到很高境界，但仍需继续努力，不能骄傲自满。

duō yòng yú bǐ yù rén de jì yì, xiū xíng děng yǐ dá dào hěn gāo jìng jiè, dàn réng xū jì xù nǔ lì, bù néng jiāo ào zì mǎn

It is often used to describe that a person's skills or spiritual practice have reached a high level, but one must still continue to strive and not be arrogant or complacent.

Examples

• 他已到达百丈竿头，但仍需精进。

  tā yǐ dào dá bǎi zhàng gān tóu, dàn réng xū jīng jìn

  He has already reached the peak of his skill, but still needs to make progress.

• 在艺术的道路上，百丈竿头，更进一步。

  zài yì shù de dàolù shang, bǎi zhàng gān tóu, gèng yī bù

  On the road to art, from a hundred-zhang pole, one step further.

Related Idioms

• 登峰造极

• 炉火纯青

Opposite Idioms

• 止步不前

• 裹足不前