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
sight needs way
There are things about ourselves that we need to get rid of; there are things we need to change. But at the same time, we do not need to be too desperate, too ruthless, too combative. Along the way to usefulness and happiness, many of those things will change themselves, and the others can be worked on as we go. The first thing we need to do is recognize and trust our own Inner Nature, and not lose sight of it.
animal needs tao-of-pooh
But isn't the knowledge that comes from experience more valuable than the knowledge that doesn't? It seems fairly obvious to some of us that a lot of scholars need to go outside and sniff around - walk through the grass, talk to the animals. That sort of thing.
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.