The Tao Of Pooh

Literally meaning “without action,” Wu Wei is perhaps the most important component of Taoism. Hoff returns to this theme repeatedly, often using allegory to exam the concept.

Wu Wei suggests an approach to achieve a tranquil life. Primarily, acting without action leads one to bend to natural forces, an act Hoff examines in the story of the old man who falls into the river beneath a waterfall. The elderly man survives the plunge because he realizes that the water’s force is more powerful than he is. Instead of fighting the water’s strength, he allows the water to push him about until the water’s own force propels him to the river bank.

Another example Hoff explores involves the martial arts. In Tai Chi, one uses the opponent’s strength. Rather than striking the opponent, Tai Chi uses the opponent’s energy to deflect his or her blows.

One of the principles of Taoism states that everything possesses its own reality, or Inner Nature. Life becomes relatively easy when Inner Nature is recognized and supported, while difficulties occur when it is ignored.

The tale of the stonecutter is about a man who decides to strive to be something more than he is. He longs for power and wealth, and he achieves great success. As each of his desires is fulfilled, however, he wishes for more. Eventually, he leaves the life of a simple stonecutter behind and is transformed into the wind. He can imagine nothing more powerful than the wind until he encounters stone. Seeing that even stone can resist the wind, the man wishes to become a stone. As soon as he achieves this goal, however, he begins to feel something chipping away at his grandeur. He is surprised when he sees beneath him a lowly stonecutter, the only thing more powerful than a mighty block of stone. 

Throughout Hoff’s book, Pooh exemplifies positivity, a necessary quality of contentment according to Taoist thought. Self-confidence is a closely-related principle since it propels the individual to take action without fear or anxiety.

Hoff also discusses the life of Buckminster Fuller as an example of positivity. Fuller had experienced a number of reversals in both his business and personal life. As he stood on the brink of suicide, he realized that he was completely free. He could take risks because he had nothing left to lose:

He returned home and committed himself to the work that he believed the universe wanted him to do, instead of what he had been taught to do. He watched the laws of the natural world and altered his own living patterns accordingly, eventually changing his life completely (121).

Hoff includes the example of Thomas Edison as another example of the power of positivity. Edison never gave up, despite once being fired for blowing up a laboratory. Hoff states:

The play-it-safe pessimists of the world never accomplish much of anything, because they don't look clearly and objectively at situations, they don't recognize or believe in their own abilities, and they won't stretch those abilities to overcome even the smallest amount of risk (122).

Simplicity is another requirement for contentment, and again Pooh represents the concept. Simplicity is not to be confused with stupidity; simplicity is an uncomplicated, direct worldview. Wisdom is a result of simplicity, rather than knowledge. Hoff uses Owl to contrast complex thinking with Pooh’s simple, yet effective simplicity.

One of the clearest examples of the contrast occurs when Eeyore loses his tail. Owl finds it in the woods and brings it home to use as a doorbell. Owl cannot see what the tail really is, but Pooh’s simplicity allows him to see it that Owl’s doorbell is actually Eeyore’s missing tail.