The Tao of Pooh

Tell me, what is this “Way”?

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff argues the children’s book character Pooh is an example of a Taoist. And if you’ve ever read Winnie the Pooh when you were younger, check out the books again, it’s a real nice nostalgia trip.

Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy dating back circa 400 BCE with the writing of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. It was developed around the same time as Confucianism and Buddhism. What’s the difference between them?

The best way to think about it from a subject of a popular Chinese allegorical painting called the “Vinegar Tasters”. It depicts three men surrounding a pot of vinegar. But these aren’t ordinary men, they are three founders of the Asian philosophies: Confucius, Buddha and Lao Tzu. Each has tasted the same vinegar where the vinegar represents life. Each has a different reaction to it.

Confucius tastes it and finds it sour. He believes the world is full of corrupted people that are not in alignment with heaven. We need rules and rituals to make sure people don’t behave badly.

Buddha tastes it and finds it bitter. He believes that life is full of suffering and that suffering comes from desiring things. Happiness could only be found by leaving this world and entering nirvana.

Lao Tzu tastes it and smiles. He finds it sweet. He believes that the sourness and bitterness of vinegar come from the unappreciated and inattentive mind. And that we should follow Dao, meaning “the Way”.

If you observe the Chinese character for Dao 道:

• The first three strokes on the top right represent the yin yang balance.¹
• Underneath is the character for oneself, signifying Dao is not far from you, Dao is within you.
• The outside radical means to go, to move, to act.

This is a powerful idea because it means we don’t have to rely on an external god. Through our own actions, we can find internal balance.

Great, then tell me what is this “way”? Except Dao is not a thing, instead it’s the underlying order that governs nature. Defining it is a fruitless exercise. What is instead important is to be sensitive on how the universe works and try live in harmony with it. That’s what it means to follow the Dao.

Human comes from nature and therefore, we must follow nature’s path. In nature and in the universe, everything has its own natural rhythm, never too fast, never too slow. It has its own pace and everything is right on time. Human beings must find and recognize this. And it only depends on our attitude towards life.

Life is like a mirror. If you frown, the mirror frowns at you. If you smile, the mirror smiles at you.

Wouldn’t it be nice to keep on smiling even when life sometimes turn sour? That’s why Taoist philosophy offers how to live a content and happy life. Taoists believe they are not separate from nature or the universe, but they are mixed in with the whole universe. And the universe is boundless and that’s why they feel content and fulfilled about their life. They smile.

Now, what is the connection with Pooh? While Pooh bear is the central figure of A.A. Milne’s book, it is also an important word in Taoism. Pu 朴 is the simplified Chinese version of the word and looks like a tree. It means wood in its prime form, formally known in Taoism as “the uncarved block”.

The beauty of Pu is in its simplicity. It reminds us that a piece of wood in its original, pure and untainted form is inside all of us. We each have an innate self that is innocent, unspoiled and pure. It boasts a natural power that brings out the best in us.

Unfortunately, that power can be easily lost when we overthink, overcomplicate and misunderstand things. Life is simple. Humans insist on making it complicated. By bringing oneself back to simplicity, we can unleash the potential of our innate natures and set ourselves free to be who we are. Thereby, living a life of authenticity, peace and happiness.

Pu is perfectly embodied by our dear friend Pooh in contrast to our other Hundred Acre Wood inhabitants Rabbit, Owl and Tigger. Pooh once said in response to “Rabbit has a Brain”, “I suppose that’s why he never understands anything.”

Similar to Rabbit, we have Owl. He is the intellectual and a professor; the one we seek out to answer the questions we have. The problem with most knowledge is that instead of creating wholeness, most ideas are divided into categories and compartments. Just look at any science textbook. Instead of learning directly through experience, most intellectuals learn directly with books.

While Lao Tzu agrees that scholarly intellect is at times useful, but for the most part it isn’t helpful. It’s about using big words and naming things we don’t yet have names for.

Once Owl said, “the customary procedure in such cases is as follows.” To which Pooh asks, “What does crustimoney proseedcake mean?” Owl replies “It means the thing to do.” This is the problem with most intellectuals. Their knowledge actually stops them from helping others.

What about Tigger? He always seems happy and energetic. One of Pooh’s songs goes like “A fly can’t bird, but a bird can fly.” Obvious, right? Well, many people don’t follow this principle. Tigger included.

Many of us try to fit square pegs into round holes, and forget to appreciate things are as they are. When you know your own inner nature, you know where you belong and where you don’t belong. It doesn’t mean you should stop changing or continue improving (in fact, Taoist believes that change is the only thing that is constant), but simply recognizing what’s there and what’s not.

“Tigger says that Tiggers can swim too, because they can do everything. Roo asks if they can climb trees better than Pooh can, and Tigger says that climbing trees is what Tiggers do best, and they do it much better than Poohs.” This is what gets Tigger into so much trouble.

The principle of Wu Wei 无为 is the idea we should behave in a way that is without combative, egotistical or meddlesome effort. In other words, to do without doing. The easiest way to create a tense and anxious mind is when we try to too hard and think too much.

It was Eeyore’s birthday and Pooh decided to bring him a jar of honey. Along the way, he got hungry. Luckily, he thought to himself he brought a jar of honey and and began to eat. After he finished, he realized he had eaten Eeyore’s birthday present. But he still had the jar. And since he was passing by Owl on the way, Pooh had Owl write happy birthday on it. When he gave it to Eeyore, Eeyore was happy as he can be.

We can all learn something from Winnie the Pooh. He’s the type to let his mind be clear and listen to the birds singing rather than the stuff full of knowledge and cleverness mind that wonders what kind of bird is singing.

¹Yin and Yang: Taoists see an order in the world. Things grow from the Earth, mature, age, die and return to the Earth in a recognizable pattern. The name for this pattern is yin and yang.

The original meaning the shady and sunny sides of a hill. The shady and sunny sides of hills are always changing: the side that is in the sun in the morning will be in the shade in the afternoon, and vice versa. This shows how nothing in the world stays the same and the cycle goes on forever.

The shady side isn’t better than the sunny side. Neither is preferable and neither can exist without the other. Something can only be yin until it reaches its peak, then it transitions into yang, and that will go back and forth. So there can be no growth without decline, no joy without sadness, and no life without death.