Tao of Pooh

In the Tao of Pooh the author, Benjamin Hoff, uses the from world-famous children's book/TV show character, Winnie the Pooh in order to explain the basics of Taoism. He observed many of the other various characters before coming to the conclusion that Winnie the Pooh, through his actions, was the character that he felt would be able to best explain the principles of Taoism. One of the most important principles of Taoism is "the Uncarved Block". The main principle behind the Uncarved Block is that things in their original state contain their own natural power, a power that is easily corrupted and lost when simplicity is changed.

Hoff uses the characters of Winnie the Pooh to show how things can be spoiled and lost but he also used them to show how things, just as easily, can work out. Hoff uses Rabbit to show that when a person is always on the run, they usually miss out on a lot of things and don't give themselves a true opportunity to enjoy life. He uses Owl to show that when a person is always looking for a reason for why or how something happens, it often makes even the simplest of things seem too complicated. Piglet, because he is always scared and hesitating nearly everything, is used to show that if a person is more efficient and not hesitant he or she could get a lot more things done. Eeyore, who is always worried about something, to show that if a person would not worry so much then life could be a lot easier.

Finally we get to the book’s legendary character, Winnie the Pooh. Hoff discusses how Pooh does not ponder or think about something, he just goes out and does it. He makes the statement that because of these things always works out for Pooh in the end. He goes on to state that instead of interfering w...

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All in all there is no doubt that Benjamin Hoff did an exceptional job of using an assortment of stories and examples from Winnie the Pooh to put in plain words his views of Taoism. The Tao of Pooh was a very creative and effective way of explaining Taoist principles and the Uncarved Block to the average reader. He is exceedingly effective and efficient in getting his central points across with stories that nearly all of us have read or seen at one point in time. Pooh just goes along with the instinctive flow of the natural world and never once contemplated doing it in any other manner. This straightforward way of life ended up working out very good for Winnie the Pooh. This should be taken rather casually however because every situation is atypical and while there is a likelihood one circumstance has a simple answer the next situation may possibly not.