Lao-tse's Tao te Ching is the text that defines the Chinese religious philosophy of Taoism. Written in an unknown era, before the 4th century BC, the Tao te Ching has been adapted and translated countless times, but remains a guiding source of knowledge for Taoism today. Due to the many fundamental differences in Eastern and Western philosophy and the obvious language barrier, these ancient Taoist teachings may seem out of reach for Western audiences. To remedy this, in 1982, American author Benjamin Hoff published The Tao of Pooh, in which he allegorically uses characters from AA Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh to introduce traditional Taoist principles to Westerners. Although both texts attempt to teach many of the same principles, they do so in very different ways and to different effects. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Tao te Ching, in its 81 short chapters, is a real puzzle for many Western readers. It introduces many foreign concepts and routinely contradicts itself. Its intentional ambiguity leaves the text wide open to different interpretations, and the huge variety of translations only further obscures the meanings: in fact, there are over 200 published translations of chapter one alone, a traditionally more accurate translation being "The Tao which is Tao" and is not Tao" (adapted by John Chalmers chapter 1). The use of contradiction is critical to the effect of the Tao te Ching, as it causes readers to question what the text says and evaluate which parts are true for themselves. Following the path of Tao means “acting without (thinking of) acting; ...to be enjoyed without discerning any flavour; consider what is small as great, and the few as many” (Lao-tse chapter 63). Contradictions like these are an important element of the text, but their use is also a factor that makes Taoist teachings more inaccessible to people who read the book in a translated language. Lao-tse's “virtues” demonstrated in each of the chapters are neither commands nor suggestions, but seem almost passive. The most important of these virtues, such as Tao, Wei Wu Wei, and P'u, are also addressed in Hoff's book. Lao-tse seeks to state the truths of Taoism without offending, allowing readers to examine each idea with an open mind. In chapter 44, Lao-tse explains Taoist ideas about wealth and fame, laying out his opinions as questions to the reader, causing you to think about how his statements affect you rather than immediately accepting or rejecting the statement. "Or fame or life, do you care more? Or life or wealth, to which you would land your life and lose these other things and lose your life: - which brings pain and sorrow closer?" Instead of commanding you to live life according to certain rules, the Tao te Ching encourages you to interpret the text for yourself. Very different from many Western philosophical or religious texts, such as the Bible or the works of ancient Greek philosophers, the Tao te Ching does not distinguish right from good: it does not say how one should behave in something, but only what the truths are and what you might strive to achieve. Do you want wealth and fame or do you want a meaningful life? Taoism doesn't tell you what you should try to achieve, it just lays out the facts for you to examine and make the best choice for you. For this reason, the Tao te Ching is a text that teaches effectively and without judgment. The Tao of Pooh reflects a much more palatable and down-to-earth representation of Taoist philosophy for Western audiences. Written by a Westerner for Westerners, the cultural reference on which the book is built also has decidedly Western roots.Benjamin Hoff describes many Taoist principles as concrete and definite in their existence, application and interpretation, even when the first chapter of the Tao te Ching directly states that “The Tao that can be trampled upon is not the enduring and immutable Tao” (Lao-tse ch. 1). Many of its points seem to contradict those of the Tao te Ching just like this example. Despite this, the book on a broader level does a great job of bringing out the Taoist principles within each of AA Milne's characters, namely Pooh. Both books cover many of the same Taoist virtues, although in different ways. In the Tao of Pooh, Hoff illuminates the principles of P'u and Wei Wu Wei within the character of Pooh. P'u, or the Uncarved Block, is the Taoist principle of things in their natural state of simplicity, just as we find Pooh. in Milne's books. Pooh is "the very epitome of the uncarved block," says Hoff, the essence of the principle being that "things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power which is easily spoiled or lost when the simplicity is changed" ( Hoff 11) . Lao-tse addresses this same idea in the Tao te Ching, stating that a man of excellence in the path of the Tao derives this excellence from his "infinite return to the first state of man", and is acclaimed for bringing out "the mere child man” within himself, which completes his excellence (Lao-tse ch. 28). This same passage is often translated as “return to the state of the uncarved block” and illustrates why the undisturbed and simple state of man or any. another thing is its greater form. Lao-tse emphasizes that less is better: the simpler the being, the wiser and greater Pooh becomes. wit or intelligence of Rabbit, Owl or Eeyore. Likewise, the wisest insights are achieved by the man who returns to his simplest state. Wu Wei is another virtue embodied by Pooh Wei means "without doing, causing, or creating," as it is traditionally defined. “But,” he says, “in practice, it means without intrusive, combative, or selfish efforts.” Wei Wu Wei means action without action and is a key principle in Taoist philosophy. Hoff explains it best by comparing it to water: "Wu Wei's efficiency is like that of water flowing over and around rocks in its path, not mechanical one, a linear approach that usually ends up short-circuiting natural laws , but which evolves from an internal sensitivity to the natural rhythm of things. "Water finds the path of least resistance to overcome the obstacles it encounters. When it's a fall, it falls. When it comes to a swimming pool, water does not try to counteract the natural environment, but succeeds precisely because it behaves without intentions, acts without doing anything in the world... overcomes the most difficult things", allowing it to know "what advantage belongs to doing nothing" (Lao-tse ch. 43). As translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English, "teaching without words and work without doing is understood by very few" (Lao-tse ch. 43tr. Gia-tse Fu Feng and Jane English). Acting so as not to cause resistance is the most efficient and natural way of acting, but Lao-tse notes that very few people are able to achieve true action without action. Following the Way allows people to learn to act in harmony with nature rather than against it, with the ultimate goal being the ability to act without doing anything, which is the way of nature itself. Rigidity will be overcome by natural flow and flexibility, just as Pooh's "simple mentality" allows him to overcome challenges that rigid knowledge cannot. In the Tao of Pooh, Milne's other characters such as Eeyore, Owl, and Rabbit become punching bags that Hoff uses to exemplify what the.