The Tao of Pooh – Flashcards
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What is P'u?
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P'u is the uncarved block, things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed.
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Using the quotes provided in the text from Winnie-the-Pooh explain the importance of The Un-carved Block, the character of Winnie and then contrast it with the descriptions of Rabbit and Eeyore.
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Winnie is simplicity, Eeyore is arrogant and rabbit is complex (2 things that are not part of the uncarved block)
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What is the result of achieving the Un-carved Block?
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Comes the ability to enjoy the simple and the quiet, the natural and the plain. Life can be fun.
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Explain: the following quote from the Taoist thinker Chuang-tse: A well frog cannot conceive of 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.
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A well frog can't survive in the ocean, a summer insect can't survive in the ice. The scholar is restricted from learning, therefore he is wise therefore he understands the Tao.
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Describe the "Confucianist Dessicated Scholar."
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One who studies knowledge for the sake of knowledge, and who keeps what he learns to himself or to his own small group, writing pompous and pretentious papers that no one else can understand, rather than working for the enlightenment of others
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Explain what Cottleston Pie is all about. Include the two ancient stories about Chuang-tse and the two quotes from Pooh's song: (p. 39) "A fly can't bird, but bird can fly" "A fish can't whistle and neither can I".
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Cottleston Pie is (knowing your limitations?) inner nature, instincts, a metaphor for knowing that things are for what they are.
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Explain the Chinese proverb: "One disease long life, no disease short life." (p. 48)
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Those who know what's wrong with them and take care of themselves accordingly will tend to live a lot longer than those who consider themselves perfectly healthy and neglect their weaknesses.
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Hoff claims that scientific explanations for instinct for example lead to more questions rather than answers. Do you agree?
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I agree, but the answers that we do get are worth more.
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Explain the following saying from Lao Tse '...the bad can be raw material for the good.'
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The bad can be a lesson for the good; That bad quality can be used for good sometimes but don't try and change too much.
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How is Tigger's bouncing used for good? (p.65)
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Tigger's bouncing is used for good by (in side bouncy tigger is the rescuer who knows the way; Tigger found rabbit who was lost in the woods.
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What is the translation of Wu-Wei?
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Without doing, causing or making. But practically speaking it means without meddlesome, combative, or egotistical effort. When you work with Wu-Wei there is no stress and no struggle.
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What is the Principle of Minimal Effort?
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To neutralize force instead of working against it.
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The lark that A.A.Milne refers to is the skylark. Listen to its song on Youtube: Skylark - the Ridgeway, Wiltshire; Skylark. Now explain the significance of the lark song that rabbit heard - what has it got to do with being a Bisy Backson? Relate it also to the Chuang-tse's story of the man who hated his footprints and his shadow; what was the man trying to escape, and how could he best achieve it?
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The significance of the lark song that rabbit heard was that it was the beginning/ related to the Bisy Backson. The man was trying to escape his shadow and footprints. He could achieve it by running away from, he would just keep running and running, never resting like the bisy backson.
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Why do Bisy Backsons work so hard?
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Because they confuse play with work, exercise with work, etc.
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The Chinese Teahouse and the Hamburger Stand are representative of two different ways of living, explain them using the following aphorisms: You're important. Relax and enjoy yourself. You don't count; hurry up. (p. 108)
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The Chinese Teahouse, you go there to relax and socialize, you hang out. The Hamburger Stand, you go there to hurry up.
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Explain the importance of 'the moment before we begin to eat honey'.
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The moment before we begin to eat honey is: Some would call it anticipation. We would call it awareness. it's when we become happy and realize it if only for an instant. It's important because By enjoying the process we can stretch that awareness out so that it's no longer only a moment, but covers the whole thing.
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Key idea/theme of the Taoist concept of Tz'u
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Tz'u can be translated to mean caring or compassionate, which is based upon the character for heart; "From caring comes courage." We might add that from it also comes wisdom. It's rather significant, we think, that those who have no compassion have no wisdom. Knowledge, yes; cleverness, maybe; wisdom, no. A clever mind is not a heart. Knowledge doesn't really care. Wisdom does. Cor, the latin word for heart, is the basis for the word courage.
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Key idea/theme of the Chinese tale of the Stonecutter
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be who you are; don't be anybody else.
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Key idea/theme of the so-called Tiddley-Pom Principle
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the snowball effect. By doing one thing, it can be contagious until it is uncontrollable. try to stop it before it gets into a problem.
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What is T'ai Hsu? How can it help one find the Tao? How can it help you solve problems?
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The Great Nothing The Great Nothing is the emptiness of the mind. When you achieve the T'ai Hsu, you won't overthink things and you will have no stress. It can help one find the Tao by
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Claude Debussy said "Music is the space between the notes." Explain what you think this means.
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The space between notes is emptiness, so therefore the emptiness is the music.
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