The Tao of Pooh is a book that uses stories of Pooh and friends to illustrate Taoism. What are some The Tao of Pooh quotes to know? How do The Tao of Pooh quotes illustrate key concepts? Like this article? Sign up for a free trial here. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading. Pooh Bear from Winnie the Pooh epitomizes this concept.This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff. The Uncarved Block is a Taoist concept that “things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power.” They also spoil and lose that power when they’re changed. This fact upsets Pooh a bit, but Hoff assures him that one of Taoism’s most important principles is called Uncarved Block. He just thinks he is because his name sounds like “Pooh Tao-tse.”Īdditionally, the poet is not named Li Pooh. In the second chapter, Hoff explains to Pooh that he’s not really a Taoist. This is interpreted by Taoists as sourness and bitterness coming from an interfering mind. The reason Lao-tse smiles in the painting, according to Hoff, is because life itself is sweet if you just understand it correctly. The author summarizes Lao-Tzu’s philosophy by explaining how this discord occurs: “Whether heavy or light, wet or dry, fast or slow, everything had its own nature already within it, which could not be violated without causing difficulties”.Īn imaginary conversation between Hoff and Pooh interrupts the explanation, after which Hoff continues to discuss Taoism. We should acknowledge the nature of things and live in harmony with them. This is because of discord with universal laws, which are present in everything. Lao-Tzu believes that humans brought about their own misery. In contrast, Buddha saw earthly desires as obstacles to Nirvana. Confucius viewed earthly government as separate from heavenly government, and he thought that it would be best if the emperor acted as a mediator between them. He advocated ancestor worship, which also shows up in his emphasis on ritual. However, the third man is smiling because he represents Taoism and its philosophy of balance in life.Ĭonfucius was a man who was unhappy with the present and believed that the past was better. He’s bitter because he represents Buddhism. The first man is sour on his experience with the vinegar because he represents Confucius. They represent Confucius, Buddha and Lao-tse, who was the author of Tao Te Ching. In the first chapter, Hoff tells a story about three Chinese vinegar tasters. He uses the character of Pooh to explain his ideas, which makes them easier to understand. It’s clear from his examples that he knows what he’s talking about. Hoff repeatedly says that people who try too hard will become frustrated and confused. The author uses Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Rabbit and Christopher to show that qualities such as knowledge and industry can stand in the way of contentment. His friends who are more complicated also benefit from his calm nature. Throughout the work, Pooh’s simple approach to life helps him succeed. Those who are aggressive, on the other hand, often find themselves unhappy in their careers and relationships. It’s a natural way of living and shouldn’t be discouraged. The author believes that intuition is the best approach to life. The examples in each chapter help guide readers toward a better understanding of what Taoism is really about. He warns the reader that if he or she tries too hard, they will miss the point of Taoism. The author’s purpose in writing this book is to teach readers how to stay happy and calm under all circumstances. It also includes stories from Winnie-the-Pooh to illustrate these principles. The book is filled with Taoist concepts, such as the Empty Mind and Wu Wei. The literal meaning for “Tao” is “the way,” which leads to contentment like Pooh has in the book. Milne’s well-known children books to exemplify those principles, such as contentment. The writer uses Winnie-the-Pooh and other characters from A.A. The Tao of Pooh is a book that explains the principles of Taoism. 1-Page Summary of The Tao of Pooh Overall Summary
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