The Theme Of Happiness In Benjamin Hoff's The Tao Of Pooh

Introduction: In Benjamin Hoff’s the Tao of Pooh, he carefully explains through the story of Winnie the Pooh what it means to be a Taoist. The theme of the one’s own happiness appears multiple times throughout the book. Illustrated through Winnie the Pooh and his friends, but explained by Hoff, comes the Taoist idea that happiness can be reached by any person. The idea sounds simple and appealing, but Taoism claims that whether or not a person reaches happiness rests in one’s own power. Consequently, since one has power to reach happiness and bliss, one’s Self creates obstacles that can prevent the Self from accomplishing the goal of happiness such as knowledge and limitations.

Discussion of Topic: In order to understand how knowledge

These ideologies consist of the problem with taking action and Wu Wei.

Today’s society pushes for people to excel and take action. If one does not do such things, the stigma of unsuccessful can be forced upon that person. Therefore, being a Bisy Backson does not necessarily have to be considered a negative trait. Hoff uses the phrase “Tao does not do, but nothing is not done” (70). This means that Taoists believe that by doing nothing, tasks or other events occur spontaneously, also known as the P’u Way. The issue that arises from this comes from today’s society. In today’s world sitting still and letting nature take its course, like Taoism suggests one to do, does not work. Society views traits such as being driven as positive, because that person will be considered to have a higher likelihood to be successful in life. However, a Taoist would consider this person to be a “Bisy Backson” (97). Hoff describes a Bisy Backson to be “always seems to have to be going somewhere or doing something” (96). Applying this Taoist belief to today’s society means that a majority of living people would be considered a Bisy Backson. According to Taoism, being a Bisy Backson will eventually result in “making him dead” (94). If this belief held true then majority

Taoism suggests that one should follow Wu Wei which “literally means without doing, causing, or making” (68). If one follows this way of life then one chooses to release his “Inner Nature” and “operate on the principle of minimal effort” (69). This idea cannot be applied to real life. If one does go through life exercising minimal effort, one will only get minimal results. In return, one will never accomplish anything in life. This means that the world would not have doctors, businesses, and even food. One cannot sit down outside and wait for food to cultivate. That would take too long. One could become nomadic and live like gathers, but living like gathers does not work in today’s modern era. Another instance can be seen is some students. If a high school student puts minimal effort into his work for all four years, he will barely be accepted my colleges, or not be accepted anywhere. As a result, he will either not go to college, or not do well in college. Thus creates the situation of not having a satisfying career after college, if he graduates with putting minimal effort into his education. Hoff states that limitations “prevents any sort of real Accomplishment in life” (16). One can deduct from this statement that Taoists believe in accomplishing goals in life. In order to accomplish goals, one must take action. One cannot sit and wait for his goal to be completed by spontaneity. Life does not