Pooh: The Master of Flow Lachlan MacLean 11th Grade

Within this current day and age, people of the world have a distinct inability to relax; with an abundance of things to do, places to see, and technology to use, stressful lifestyles thrive. Individuals often find themselves struggling desperately to attain control over every aspect of their lives, which generally places them further from their goals in the end. In order to rid oneself of these petty problems, one must connect with their inner Pooh. Benjamin Hoff, in his book The Tao of Pooh, uses Winnie the Pooh and other illustrations to describe Taoism. He tells how a true Taoist flows with the characteristics of Wu Wei, knows the experience of life to be sweet, and views the world and themselves as un-carved blocks.

With so many ups and downs, it may seem difficult to define life as anything other than unpredictable. However, as Hoff explains the bases of Taoism, the experiences of life are what make it sweet, not the events themselves. He begins by comparing the three teachings of Asia with a painting called The Vinegar Tasters. The picture depicts K’ung Fu-tse, Buddha, and Lao-tse trying the Vinegar; “The first has a sour look on his face, the second wears a bitter expression, but the third man is smiling”(Hoff 3). The...