51 pages • 1 hour read
Benjamin HoffThe Tao Of Pooh
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1982A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
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BetaChapters 1-3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 1 Summary: “The How of Pooh?”
Chapter 1 begins with a parable to explain the philosophy of Taoism. Hoff tells the story of the three Chinese vinegar tasters, depicted in a painting titled The Vinegar Tasters. The three men represent the “Three Teachings of China”: K'ung Fu-tse (also known as Confucius), Buddha, and Lao-tse. Lao-tse is the author of the oldest known writings on Taoism. The first man in the painting is shown experiencing a sour taste from the vinegar. The second man’s expression is bitter, but the third man is smiling.
K'ung Fu-tse is the sour man, dissatisfied with the present. Because he believes the past is preferable to the present, K’ung Fu-tse advocates ancestor worship. This reverence is also evidenced in Confucians’ emphasis on ritual. K'ung Fu-tse views earthly government as out-of-step with heavenly government, and favors the emperor acting as mediator between the two realms. In contrast, Buddha viewed earthly desires as obstacles to Nirvana.
Lao-tse, however, believes humans brought about their own misery by living in discord with universal laws. Hoff summarizes Lao-tse’s philosophy by explaining how this discord occurs: “Whether heavy or light, wet or dry, fast or slow, everything had its own nature already within it, which could not be violated without causing difficulties” (4). The Way of the Universe, or simply “The Way,” recognizes value in experiences in the earthly world. Lao-tse’s teachings have become the basis for various belief systems, all referred to generally as Taoism.
An imaginary conversation between Hoff and Pooh interrupts the explanation, after which Hoff continues to discuss Taoism. The reason Lao-tse smiles in the painting, according to Hoff,is, “From the Taoist point of view, sourness and bitterness come from the interfering and unappreciativemind. Life itself, when understood and utilized for what it is, is sweet” (6). This, Hoff explains to Pooh, is the meaning of The Vinegar Tasters.
Chapter 2 Summary: “The Tao of Who?”
Chapter 2 opens with a late-night discussion between Hoff and Pooh regarding wisdom. Pooh claims that his understanding of Taoism comes from his ancestors, Pooh Tao-tse and Li Pooh. Hoff gently explains that the Chinese painter is not Pooh Tao-tse, but Wu-tse.
Additionally, the poet is not named Li Pooh, but Li Po. Pooh is a bit saddened by these revelations, but Hoff assures him that one of the most important tenets of Taoism is named after him. P'u represents the Uncarved Block.
The principle of the Uncarved Block states that “[…] things in their original simplicity containtheir own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed” (10).Hoff calls Pooh “[…] the very Epitome of the Uncarved Block” (11).
To support this claim, Hoff describes what happens when Pooh, Rabbit, and Piglet are lost in the forest. Each time they try to walk out of the forest, they end up at the same sand-pit. Eventually, Pooh proposes that they walk away and actually try to find the sand-pit this time since trying to avoid finding the sand-pit isn’t working. Rabbit and Piglet scoff at the idea, and Rabbit walks into the forest. Soon, Pooh announces that it is time to go home. He doesn’t know how to get there, he admits to Piglet, but “there are twelve pots of honey in my cupboard, and they've been calling to me for hours. I couldn't hear them properly before, because Rabbit would talk, but if nobody says anything except those twelve pots, I think” (14).
Hoff explains that each of Pooh’s friends is actually disadvantaged by their personal characteristics.Rabbit’s brain stands in the way of understanding, while Eeyore’s constant complaining is his flaw. Owl wants to appear wise. Pooh, who is simple and spontaneous, is the only one who is happy. Pooh, Hoff says, is the epitome of the Uncarved Block.
Chapter 3 Summary: “Spelling Tuesday”
Hoff points out that Taoism is typically interpreted by scholars, a situation that Hoff laments because "[t]he wise are not learned; the learned are not wise" (24). Hoff has no special dislike for scholars, but he does not believe they can understand something they have not experienced.
Another problem with scholars interpreting Taoism, Hoff says, is the dull academic jargon they employ. In addition, book learning is not the same as experience, and Hoff points out that most of the academics have no first-hand experience with Taoism. Owl is a good example of scholarly thought, Hoff claims.
Scholars focus on unimportant details, while the larger picture escapes them. Hoff uses a poem by Han-shan to clarify the issues of scholars explaining Taoism. In the poem, the scholars’ words “read like the words of a blind man describing the sun” (29). More importantly, the scholar is an observer, rather than a participant.
“A well-frog cannot imagine the ocean, nor can a summer insect conceive of ice. How then can a scholar understand the Tao?” Chuang-tse asks. “He is restricted by his own learning” (24).
Hoff says that when things go wrong for the scholar, he or she blames the Uncarved Block. In fact, the scholar’s myopic focus on detail often stands in the way of understanding.
It is ironic that in the west, Taoism has somehow become the purview of the academician, according to Hoff, since the scholar may understand the concepts without actually practicing them.Another drawback is that the scholar uses “intimidating words”, and these words prohibit rather than aid in understanding Taoism (28).
Chapters 1-3 Analysis
Benjamin Hoff uses Winnie-the-Pooh, a familiar character from the works of A.A. Milne, to explain the philosophy of Taoism. In so doing, Hoff appeals to a wide audience likely to be familiar with Milne’s character. Winnie-the-Pooh is something of a happy wanderer, as Hoff illustrates repeatedly in the first few chapters, and Pooh’s determination to live life spontaneously makes him a good example of a person open to viewing life as asurprising adventure. This behavior exemplifies the Way in Taoism.
The first three chapters of The Tao of Pooh also provide other definitions associated with Taoism. Pooh, Hoff says, is a great example of the Uncarved Block. Pooh is spontaneous and joyful, and his temperament is often contrasted with the other inhabitants of the forest: Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, and others.
Hoff laments the fact that many of these concepts are difficult to explain, yet easy to understand with examples. The book’s third chapter focuses on those who have attempted to explain Taoism unsuccessfully, in Hoff’s view. He discusses the scholars who have focused on detail to the point of losing the meaning of the philosophy.
Hoff says that there is a difference between learning and wisdom. While the scholars may have learning, they lack wisdom. Hoff contrasts scholars’ book learning with experiential learning, which he believes is the path to true understanding. An example illustrates this point. A blind person may have learned what the sun is, but his or her description of the sun would be lacking.
The basic terms and concepts of Taoism are clearly explained and exemplified in the first three chapters to assist readers in understanding more complex concepts of the philosophy in later chapters.
