The Tao of Pooh
2 journalers for this copy...
Taoism according to Winnie the Pooh. (One corner slightly chewed by a cockatiel.)
"One of the world's great Taoist masters isn't Chinese, or a venerable philosopher, but is in fact none other than A. A. Milne's effortlessly calm, still, reflective bear Winnie-the-Pooh. While Eeyore frets and Piglet hesitates and Rabbit calculates and Owl pontificates, Pooh just is. And that's the clue to the secret wisdom of the Taoists."
"One of the world's great Taoist masters isn't Chinese, or a venerable philosopher, but is in fact none other than A. A. Milne's effortlessly calm, still, reflective bear Winnie-the-Pooh. While Eeyore frets and Piglet hesitates and Rabbit calculates and Owl pontificates, Pooh just is. And that's the clue to the secret wisdom of the Taoists."
This cute little book really does explain the principles of Taoism, and while reading it I discovered that I'm very much a natural Taoist. Very cleverly presented, and easily understood:
"To Lao-tse (LAOdsuh), the harmony that naturally existed between heaven and earth from the very beginning could be found by anyone at any time, but not by following the rules of the Confucianists. As he stated in his Tao Te Ching (DAO DEH JEENG), the “Tao Virtue Book”, earth was in essence a reflection of heaven, run by the same laws—not by the laws of men. These laws affected not only the spinning of distant planets, the but activities of the birds in the forest and the fish in the sea. According to Lao-tse, the more man interfered with the natural balance produced and governed by the universal laws, the further away the harmony retreated into the distance. The more forcing, the more trouble. Whether heavy or light, wet or dry, fast or slow, everything had its nature already within it, which could not be violated without causing difficulties. When abstract and arbitrary rules were imposed from the outside, struggle was inevitable. Only then did life become sour.
To Lao-tse, life was a teacher of valuable lessons. Its lessons needed to be learned, just as its laws needed to be followed; then all would go well. Rather than turn away from “the world of dust”, Lao-tse advised others to “join the dust of the world”. What he saw operating behind everything in heaven and earth he called the Tao, “the Way”.
Taoism is a particular way of appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life. From the Taoist point of view, the natural result of this harmonious way of living is happiness. You might say that happy serenity is the most notable characteristic of the Taoist personality, and a subtle sense of humor is apparent even in the most profound of Taoist writings."
"To Lao-tse (LAOdsuh), the harmony that naturally existed between heaven and earth from the very beginning could be found by anyone at any time, but not by following the rules of the Confucianists. As he stated in his Tao Te Ching (DAO DEH JEENG), the “Tao Virtue Book”, earth was in essence a reflection of heaven, run by the same laws—not by the laws of men. These laws affected not only the spinning of distant planets, the but activities of the birds in the forest and the fish in the sea. According to Lao-tse, the more man interfered with the natural balance produced and governed by the universal laws, the further away the harmony retreated into the distance. The more forcing, the more trouble. Whether heavy or light, wet or dry, fast or slow, everything had its nature already within it, which could not be violated without causing difficulties. When abstract and arbitrary rules were imposed from the outside, struggle was inevitable. Only then did life become sour.
To Lao-tse, life was a teacher of valuable lessons. Its lessons needed to be learned, just as its laws needed to be followed; then all would go well. Rather than turn away from “the world of dust”, Lao-tse advised others to “join the dust of the world”. What he saw operating behind everything in heaven and earth he called the Tao, “the Way”.
Taoism is a particular way of appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life. From the Taoist point of view, the natural result of this harmonious way of living is happiness. You might say that happy serenity is the most notable characteristic of the Taoist personality, and a subtle sense of humor is apparent even in the most profound of Taoist writings."
Off to Scotland, and its new home with Drusillamac!
Thanks for the RACBK MadameUrushiol. And the lovely postcard as well :-)
This really is a charming little book. It was recommended to me a few year ago by a work collegue but I lost track of it. I found the principles of Tao really interesting as I've read books in which characters have made numerous references to Tao and so on.
I think though I am an Owl or a Rabbit concerning the idea of academia. I don't think I could become a Pooh Tao master easily. But this book does appear to provide a good introduction to such ideas. I'm hunting for a copy of the other book by the same author which is The Te of Piglet.
At the moment this copy is reseved as I think I have a few friends who might fancy having a wee read at it.
All in all a very enjoyable book.
I think though I am an Owl or a Rabbit concerning the idea of academia. I don't think I could become a Pooh Tao master easily. But this book does appear to provide a good introduction to such ideas. I'm hunting for a copy of the other book by the same author which is The Te of Piglet.
At the moment this copy is reseved as I think I have a few friends who might fancy having a wee read at it.
All in all a very enjoyable book.
This book is off to a non-Bookcrossing friend. I'm unsure whether it is going to come back to me so I'll set the status to travelling for the moment.
