Kyogen's 'man up a hundred-foot pole' illustrates the danger of spiritual attainment. Even reaching the top of the pole is not enough; one must take the next step, which means letting go completely. The monk asking 'What about the man up the pole?' is already attached to the position. Kyogen's answer 'Go' pushes him off the pole into the unknown. The koan is a radical call to abandon even the highest spiritual achievements.