Benjamin Hoff
Benjamin Hoff
Benjamin Hoffis an American author. He is best known as the author of The Tao of Poohand The Te of Piglet. In 2006, he denounced the publishing industry and announced his resignation from book-writing. His book, The Singing Creek Where the Willows Grow, won the American Book Award in 1988...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAuthor
CountryUnited States of America
children smart accomplish-nothing
Within each of us there is an Owl, a Rabbit, and Eeyore, and a Pooh. For too long, we have chosen the way of Owl and Rabbit. Now, like Eeyore, we complain about the results. But that accomplishes nothing. If we are smart, we will choose the way of Pooh. As if from far away, it calls us with the voice of a child's mind. It may be hard to hear at times, but it is important just the same, because without it, we will never find our way through the forest.
education children creativity
The Eeyore Educational System sees childhood as a waste of time, a luxury that society cannot afford . . . Put children in school at the earliest age possible; load them down with homework; take away their time, their creativity, their play, their power; then plug them into machines.
american-author began book explained principles
That was when I began to get an idea: to write a book that explained the principles of Taoism through Winnie-the-Pooh, and explained Winnie-the-Pooh through the principles of Taoism.
american-author basic concerned happens learning particular simply whatever
But the basic Taoism that we are concerned with here is simply a particular way of appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life.
spiritual clubs infinite
The Infinite Universal Power is more than just a narrow-minded gatekeeper to a spiritual County Club.
summer ocean ice
A well-frog cannot imagine the ocean, nor can a summer insect conceive of ice. How then can a scholar understand the Tao? He is restricted by his own learning.
thinking things-in-life rainbow
Those who think that the rewarding things in life are somewhere over the rainbow 'burn their toast a lot,' said Pooh
attachment suffering desire
To Buddha, the second figure in the painting, life on earth was bitter, filled with attachments and desires that led to suffering.
believe use imitating-others
We simply need to believe in the power that's within us, and use it.
taken drug relief
Practically everything from hairstyles to lifestyles is endorsed as some sort of drug to be taken Now for Instant Relief.
purpose phrases use
Under Confucianism, the use of precisely measured court music, prescribed steps, actions, and phrases all added up to an extremely complex system of rituals, each used for a particular purpose at a particular time.
doe able tao
Pooh is able to accomplish what he does because he is simpleminded.
mean done way
It means that Tao doesn't force or interfere with things, but lets them work in their own way, to produce results naturally. Then whatever needs to be done is done.
stupid mean simple
As any old Taoist walking out of the woods can tell you, simple-minded does not necessarily mean stupid.