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The Tao of Pooh, written by Benjamin Hoff is an excellent book because it teaches how to stay happy and calm under all circumstances. The idea was to write a book explaining the principles of Taoism using Winnie the Pooh and to explain Winnie the Pooh through the principles of Taoism. Hoff tells the story about the Three Teachings of China that represents the Essence of Life. The first teaching thought that life was bitter and believed that the present was out of step with the past so people should honor their ancestors and the ancient rituals. The second teaching thought that the earth was a setter of traps that caused much pain for all creatures. The third teaching was Lao-tse who felt that the natural harmony exists between heaven and earth.
He taught that earth was a refection of heaven and the more man interfered with the way the universe ran, the less harmony he would have. Lao-tse thought the world was not a setter of traps but a teacher of lessons. These teachings became the beginning of Taoism. The most important principle of Taoism is the Uncarved Block.
The principle of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power. This power is easily spoiled and lost when the simplicity is changed. (10) Hoff uses the characters of Winnie the Pooh and friends to teach about how things can be made complicated and how they sometimes can just work out. Each character teaches a lesson. Rabbit is very clever and is always in a hurry with important dates. Piglet says, Rabbit has a brain.
I suppose, said Pooh, that is why he never understands anything. This shows that it is not always best to have knowledge for the sake of being clever. (14) Eeyore was an old gray Donkey whose attitude got in his way. He was always complaining and is simply not that much fun. When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way (copy, in Quotations, top page 20 to end of paragraph) The Owl was used to show the wise person who was a great thinker, but was very helpless in his daily life.
He made things more complicated with his thinking. The knowledge of the scholar is hard to understand because knowledge and experience are different. The poem Cottleston Pie teaches that things are as they are and not to try to fit square pegs in round holes. Everything and everybody has a purpose. By listening to your Inner Nature you will know where you belong.
Trying to do what you are not designed to do can cause big trouble. Tigger shows the problem of not knowing your own limitations. He rushes off into things that he does not know how to get out of. Tigger thought he could do everything and always caused problems because he cant.
Once you face and understand your limitations, you can work with then instead of having them work against you. 49 The Way of Self-Reliance starts with recognizing who we are, what we got to work with and what works best for us. (57) Each of us has an Inner Nature that we need to find and follow. When Eeyore falls into the river, it is not cleverness that gets him out. Poohs simple ideas saves Eeyore. The idea of Taoism is there are no accidents and everything will work out if you just let them. Hoff described the Rabbit as a Bisy Backson, someone who was always in a hurry, afraid to enjoy a sunny day without running around. The Bisy Backson is always going somewhere and doing something but not taking time to enjoy life.
Pooh is the character that seems to show the meaning of the Uncarved Block. He is simple but not stupid. He never hurries or over thinks things and things just seem to work out OK. CONCLUSION: YOU ADD PERSONAL STUFF ON EACH OF THE CHARACTERS YOU MENTIONED BY GIVING EXAMPLES OF TIMES YOU HAVE ACTED AS THEY HAVE.
I really liked this book because it was fairly easy to read and understand. I was able to recognize myself several times when I read about the different characters and the difficulties they got into. It makes sense to listen to the inner self and not try too hard. I have acted like Rabbit when I (Give examples of each animal and you? Conclusion sentence?
Try to be more Pooh like? Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on Setter Of Traps Principles Of Taoism Things
