In the book “Tao of Pooh” author Benjamin Hoff uses a specific style to portray the ideas of Taoism. With the use of Winnie the Pooh characters, Hoff presents the variety of personalities that exist in the world. Hoff begins to mention the principal ideas such as the “Uncarved Block” also known as P’u. Furthermore, Hoff elaborates on the principle of the uncarved block by stating that things that are in their “original simplicity contain their own natural power” (Hoff 10). Hoff portrays Pooh as the figure for the “uncarved block.”…
In the beginning of the chapter “Cottleston Pie” Rabbit attempted to be rid of Kanga and Roo with a clever idea despite his intellect his plan failed. The Cottleston Pie Principle was based upon a song Pooh sang in Winnie the Pooh however the term “Cottleston Pie” merely meant Inner nature. The narrator and Pooh then touch upon the fact that individuals with square pegs tend to attempt putting their pegs into round holes. A few quotes from Pooh himself were served as examples for deep messages from the master of Taoism Chuang-Tse. Tigger the energetic exuberant character demonstrated a person who does not know their limitations. Piglet and Pooh later understood that they should not come up with unnecessary conclusions when they attempted to…
The Taoism (or the Daoism) is a religious and philosophical tradition of the Chinese. They indicate of living in harmony with nature. The Tao means “the way”, “the path” or “the way things are”, and also can be find in other Chinese philosophies and religious. Everything about the Taoism comes from The Tao Te Ching written by Laozi (or Lao Tzu). The book explains what to know about the Tao, how the Taoist disciple’s should follow the Tao, and which is his/her main goal(s).…
In The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff, the author is explaining Taoism to people who do not know what it is, using a classic childhood story, Winnie the Pooh. Hoff observes every character from the childhood story and finding Pooh to be the best for all. The main and first thing talked about in the story is what Taoism believes as the uncarved block, Hoff which then says it is everything in it’s simplest form. Pooh represents the uncarved block because he in his self is simplistic. Pooh is always calm, and relaxed and doesn’t stress about anything, well except his honey of course. The concept of Wu Wei is a major concept in the book, where there is no struggle to doing something, for example you don’t but the round peg in the square hole, or vice versa, because it is to put the round peg in the round hole. Wu Wei doesn’t try, it just does.…
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff is certainly an interesting book. Pooh has always been an interesting character and his ways seem to be very close to the ancient Chinese principle of Taoism. When I was younger I was a great fan of Pooh and Huff does a great job of explaining the Taoist philosophy through Pooh and his animal friends. This is not your average children’s bedtime story just as A. A. Milne orginally did not write the Pooh stories for children.…
In the beginning of the “How of pooh?” taoism is being explained to pooh. We are introduced to three representations of China through the vinegar tasters in a picture. These tasters represented the teachings of K’ung Fu-tse (Confucius), the Buddha, and Lao-tse. The narrator provided a more in depth understanding of each philosopher. K’ung Fu-tse (Confucianism) emphasized reverence for Ancestors, as well as having ancient rituals and ceremonies with the emperor. Confucianism contained the use of precisely measured elements and phrases that were used for a particular purpose at particular times. The world is considered bitter and desirous which caused Nirvana to be a necessary part in the Buddhist perspective. Finally there is the Lao-tse a…
Western societal thinkers/philosophers/writers represent, in their own way, the Tao, because... actually, I do not think they represent Taoism, at all. Taoism, I think, is basically just to enjoy life in its simplest form, and not to worry too much - take life as a gift and just enjoy it. Again, I think. After reading this book, (I still have two or three more chapters to go...), I still cannot manage to understand a simple meaning of Taoism. I have looked on the internet, and it is nothing like P'u, because everything I have come across is all so complex. Anyway, if Taoism is that, Western societal thinkers/philosophers/writers do not represent it, at all! They question everything, want to know answers, and usually they question their own existence. Would someone who is... someone like,…
Is difficult to accept the world the way it is, just as it comes. Sometimes we tend to force things to happen and in response we just create more problems, making ourselves unhappy and suffer unnecessarily. Sometimes the best thing to do is to let things go and let them take a natural curse, in order to be leaded to success, whatever that is in each of our lives. Correspondingly, Tao Te Ching and Border Town, focus on Taoism and in both the idea of wu wei is deeply express by giving meaning to life through the constant flow of nature. Moreover, Taoism is centered in the spiritual level of self. It is an ancient religious and philosophical system that started in China. Tao meaning “the way,” can’t be described with words, neither can it be conceived…
The uncarved block (P’u) is representative of things as they are in their natural form, untouched, and unchanged. Pooh is the uncarved block in the story of “The Tao of Pooh.” Piglet explains it perfectly when he says, “Pooh hasn’t much Brain, but he never comes to any harm. He does silly things and they turn out right (Huff, p.21).” Pooh is simple, like a child, and that does not mean in any way that he is stupid, in fact, to the Taoist it means quite the opposite. Pooh has an inner wisdom because he carries no arrogance. Pooh is humble. His mind is empty and he is open to the experience of his current…
Out of all the characters in Whinnie the Pooh, Eeyore has the most unique personality. He has a somewhat dry personality with a sad depressed cover whereas the other characters have a more happy, easy-going attitude.. These different characteristics give the story a much bigger variety. Without Eeyore there would be no twist to the story, no one different and much less variety.…
The purpose of Taoism was to solidify humans’ relationship, harmony, and connection with nature. In the Daodejing, a text written by Laozi during the third or fourth century, the thoughts emphasised were “untutored simplicity was powerful” (Spodek 212). Because Taoism stressed and allowed an individual to follow their own Tao, something that the mind cannot grasp but exists, it was taught that this “view of simplicity diminished the need for a government” (Spodek 212). Taoists believed that in order to be in touch with our deeper self and experience the world fully we needed to be still, let go of complex thoughts, and not commit any unnecessary actions, as it is unproductive. This is parallel to the idea that nature does not hurry, yet everything gets accomplished. Confucianism and Taoism are two schools of thought that exist; however can not be complete without certain aspects and the influence of one another.…
Pooh, just is, as it says in The Tao of Pooh and that is the key to Taoism. Pooh never worries about anything. He is called, "The Uncarved Block." This means that everything is in its simplest form. Also, Pooh represents the joys of childhood or the joys of being a child. He has no worries and no responsibilities, he just is. He does not do much thinking before doing…
Our Society is comprised of many different views and beliefs through various teachings. These teachings gave the world a different view on life and how we can live our life in peace. A good example of one of the teachings was the Tao-Te Ching. Lao-Tzu wrote the Tao-Te Ching, during the time in china of 551-479 B.C.E., which is better known as Taoism. The teaching of the “Tao” greatly emphasizes about good government and moral behavior in our everyday living.…
Chuang Tzus ideal person has discovered the Tao, or Way. The Tao can be described as the underlying unity that embraces man, Nature, and all that is in the universe. This manner of living involves a central message of freedom, from both the material world and traditional, rational thought. By following the Way, the true sage can attain an existence liberated from worldly constraint and live in peaceful harmony with nature.…
The tao is an impersonal sacred which emphasis to the believer or follower they are personally attached to the belief of the religion. The impersonal sacred “ a matter of power , alike for good and evil” as Van der Leeuw argued (26). The sacred has the power to relate to people and things of the world. The tao is a Fascinous that fascinates and cause a positive reaction. Fascinus is one of the traits of the “numinous” that Otto argues that Sacred must posses .…