12/11/2023 0 Comments Cottleston pie tao of pooh![]() One criticism of this method, and the philosophical standpoint behind it, is that is a bit passive, certainly from our busy 21st Century Western perspective Pooh would never have the drive to build the next Amazon or Facebook. Teaching through stories and other examples, rather than dogma, makes Taoism more accessible and comprehensible. Hoff never describes it with particular analytical rigour, largely, I think, because to do so would miss a central point of this philosophy (as explained by Hoff) Tao is the way of nothingness, of forgetting Cleverness and Knowing Things in favour of Taking Things As They Are, being Natural and finding time for Contemplation. The above three lessons are the clearest the theory of Tao (also known as ‘The Way’) is ever articulated in the book. To that end, “Cottleston Pie” is as good an answer to a riddle as any, so that’s what Pooh sings. Being able to recognise the difference is very important. There are some things we need to know, and some things we don’t. Why does a chicken behave as it does? A scientist might tell you it’s because of instinct, but trying to define ‘instinct’ leads you down an impossible rabbit hole. In the third and final stanza Pooh sings “ Why does a chicken, I don’t know why.” The point is that there are things which defy rational explanation. The alternative is thinking that you already can whistle (or do anything else), and then becoming disappointed/disheartened/disatisfied (not to mention most likely getting into what Pooh might describe as ‘a spot of bother’) when you try to whistle and can’t. This knowledge then becomes a freedom, because knowing where you are (ie understanding your limitations) allows you to plan where you are going, and take the next steps to get there. In the second stanza, Pooh sings “ A fish can’t whistle and neither can I.” This means essentially that we are aware of our limitations just as we wouldn’t expect a fish to be able to whistle, if you can’t whistle at the moment then that is the status quo. Lean into what resonates with you and you are on the right path. Everything has its own place and function. In the first stanza, Pooh sings “ A fly can’t bird, but a bird can fly.” You might say “well obviously”, and that’s the point one can’t fit a square peg into a round hole, so don’t try to. “ Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie.” ![]() The most interesting three lessons I learnt in the book about the teachings of Taoism are encapsulated in Pooh’s little ditty ‘Cottleston Pie’, repeated here in full: Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie, This too-tight focus on justifications and Reason leads to them missing the bigger picture (or indeed the point) entirely, as when Owl thinks that Pooh (and not the wind) might have blown his tree-house down. Hoff sees Owl as the archetype of a particular kind of scientific, or ‘modern’, person, slave to the need to categorise and subdivide. The following day is of course ‘Thirdsday’…. Tuesday is, according to Owl, spelt ‘Twosday’ because it’s the second day of the week. Pooh is set in contrast with, for example, Owl, who is always being frightfully Clever and Impressive but, importantly, also Slightly Wrong. What is really magnificent about him is that he is thoroughly himself, top-to-bottom Pooh in short, Pooh just exists, taking in the world with eyes wide open in a beatific state of naturalness. He joys in the present moment, as the quote above shows, and takes happiness from the simplest of things. ![]() Pooh, explains Benjamin Hoff (the author), embodies a kind of Taoist ideal. The Tao of Pooh is an interesting book which seeks to illustrate the teachings of the Eastern philosophy of Taoism (pronounced ‘dow-ism’) through the figure of A. “I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet. “When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |