The Tao of Pooh

My initial assumption going into this book was that I was not going to like it. I didn’t read Winnie the Pooh growing up, so I have no childhood attachment to the stories told, nor did I have even the slightest bit of knowledge about Taoism. However, I was surprised; I actually liked the book. Hoff used such an easy, and even cute, way of explaining Taoism. The stories, being the first time I’ve heard them, were so simple, but made so much sense. Taoism now seems like life’s common sense that I forgot I knew. It was refreshing to see how Pooh could just go with the flow, without stress, or worry, and nature aligned with him. I also really liked the ‘Cottleston Pie’ concept that things are simply just the way they are. Sometimes I have a problem just accepting everything for what it is and not wanting to fix or change it. I constantly “try to fit square pegs into round holes.” (p.20) My general self/sanity could really benefit from remembering that “The Way of Self-Reliance starts with recognizing who we are, what we've got to work with, and what works best for us.” (p.28)

My need for constant ‘doing’ is probably why I wasn’t offended by Hoff’s critique of American culture as Bisy Backsons. I am a Bisy Backson and wish that I wasn’t! Last week, I saw a small group of young people (hippies?) on the side of the road begging for money to buy and old school bus to use to travel the country. I looked at them with jealousy and pity at the same time. I wished I was that free and unattached, but also feared that their lives would never amount to anything. This is how I felt reading about the Bisy Backsons. I was torn between which way I should live. Do you stop and smell the flowers as the world passes you by, or do you work hard and achieve your dreams? I liked his mention of ‘the reward’ at the end of a Bisy Backson’s work. But then, after considering his other arguments, the reward seems silly when you consider the forcing, and worry required to achieve it.

I feel like some of the teachings of Taosim, if practiced, could produce some sort of solution to the problems in American culture. I know that I am in the majority when I admit that I am a Bisy Backson. The concept of Wu Wei could influence people in America to slow down, and “operate on the principle of minimal effort.” (p.2) This laid back lifestyle would probably cut down on things like road rage, or impatience that is so common in America. I really liked Hoff’s metaphor; “The efficiency of Wu Wei is like that of water flowing over and around the rocks in its path—not the mechanical, straight-line approach that usually ends up short-circuiting natural laws, but one that evolves from an inner sensitivity to the natural rhythm of things.” (p.2)