Sam Grant-Williams

2/6/15
Intro to Philosophy
Outside Reading
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
The ancient practices and beliefs of Philosophical Taoism are a long lasting and incredibly
potent aspect of Asian culture and beliefs. From China and Mongolia to Japan and Korea the ancient
teachings of Laozi have become a cornerstone of many Asian cultural beliefs, however due to the fact
that such beliefs had evolved for hundreds of years without western influences many of the ideals and
bits of wisdom laid out in Taiost philosophy can often seem alien to those who have grown up in the
western world. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff does an excellent job of explaining and to some
extent simplifying the core principals of Taoist philosophy to a western audience. Using the lovable
characters from a book that formed the cornerstone of my childhood, Winnie the Pooh, the Tao of Pooh
has helped me develop a far better understanding of far eastern philosophy.

The Book starts off with an expiation of the Vinegar Tasters a common artistic motif and subject
of painting in China. In this painting three figures, who are identified as the three great spiritual
teachers of China: Confucius, the Buddha, and Laozi are seen dipping their fingers into a vat of vinegar
and tasting it. Each of the Great Teachers is seen with a different facial expression which shows the
viewer what their reaction is. Confucius is shown with a sour expression, The Buddha is seen with a
bitter face, and Laozi the founder of Taoism displays a look of satisfaction. To expand upon this further
it is said that Confucius saw life a being sour and people were full of degradation and depravity and
that only with strict rules and order can people function. Gautama Buddha viewed life as bitter, having
lived for most of his life as a prince and then a large part of it as an a ascetic feeling discontent until
becoming enlightened he felt that life and death were an endless cycle of pain, suffering, and longing
born form inner human desire. In most interpretations of the painting because Buddhism is focused on

the self, it viewed the vinegar as harmful to the body due it its strong flavor. Laozi is shown with a
sweet expression as Taoism viewed life as intrinsically good so long as everything was in its natural
state. It is because of this that the painting is mostly interpreted as favoring Taoism, as the author
Benjamin Hoff states: From the Taoist point of view, sourness and bitterness come from the interfering
and unappreciative mind. Life itself, when understood and utilized for what it is, is sweet. That is the
message of The Vinegar Tasters".

Expanding upon the tale of the Vinegar Tasters, Hoff explains key aspects of Taoist Philosophy
using the different characters from Winnie-the-Pooh to show different concepts. In particular the title
character, Pooh the bear is used to show the idea of wei wu wei or action without action and the idea
of living in the now. Wu Wei or Wei Wu Wei is the a very important concept in Taoism that means nonaction. It is explained that in order to act as one with the Tao or Way one needs to do things with out
effort or reason and just do them. Wu Wei is best described as being like the planets who orbit around
the sun without any control or force in their movements which is natural way they are, and so
according to Taoism people too must find some way of living out their lives in a natural way, a way that
dose not try to force unnecessary action or change. This shown in the character of Pooh by how he is
content with how he lives his life, not worrying too much when things get tough and not trying solely
to get things done. He does not try very hard to do things (other then maybe get more honey) and yet he
gets so many things done and is able to help all his friends when they need him. In the book Tigger asks
Pooh just how he becomes so effortless and Pooh simply tells him that he just does not do much of
anything to which Tigger replies that Pooh still get so many things done, Pooh just tells Tigger that they
just sort of happen. It is because of this Pooh exemplifies Wu Wei.
In contrast to Pooh characters like Rabbit, Owl, and Eeyore are known to over complicate
things, Owl acts with arrogance and a know- it- all attitude that clouds his overall positive character. He
is always jumping to conclusions and often sends the other characters off on wild goose chases with

misinformation instead of as the Taoists would say sit in the shade( Yin) and contemplate. Eeyore
(my favorite) is someone who is like the polar opposite of Pooh and is unable to simply enjoy life as it
is and is unable to 'just be'. He is too focused on how everything can go wrong and there for unable to
see life for how it is, as the Taoists see it, sweet.
All in all, after reading this a western reader will most likely have a better understanding of the
ancient wisdom of Taoism and will be able to use the words of Pooh, Piglet, Laozi and Hoff to live
their lives in accordance with the Tao, aka the way. We all can learn from the cute animals living in
the Hundred Acre Wood, a simplistic world where one can take things as they are and live peacefully
one day at a time. The book The Tao of Pooh is a great tool to get a better understanding of the world
and our own lives through a different perspective and may one day show all of us the Tao.

Bibliography
http://www.just-pooh.com/tao.html
http://www.benjaminhoffauthor.com/
http://winniethepooh.disney.com/
http://personaltao.com/teachings/taoism/taoism-101/
http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/55188-the-tao-of-pooh
http://www.tao.org/
http://taoism.about.com/od/wuwei/a/wuwei.htm
http://www.biography.com/people/aa-milne-9409137