Benjamin Hoff
Benjamin Hoff
Benjamin Hoffis an American author. He is best known as the author of The Tao of Poohand The Te of Piglet. In 2006, he denounced the publishing industry and announced his resignation from book-writing. His book, The Singing Creek Where the Willows Grow, won the American Book Award in 1988...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAuthor
CountryUnited States of America
american-author began book explained principles
That was when I began to get an idea: to write a book that explained the principles of Taoism through Winnie-the-Pooh, and explained Winnie-the-Pooh through the principles of Taoism.
according american-author balance further governed harmony interfered man natural produced universal
According to Lao-tse, the more man interfered with the natural balance produced and governed by the universal laws, the further away the harmony retreated into the distance.
american-author basic concerned happens learning particular simply whatever
But the basic Taoism that we are concerned with here is simply a particular way of appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life.
love inspiring dog
Lots of people talk to animals... Not very many listen, though... That's the problem.
life fun block
When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun.
cheer-up taoism want
Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you've got.
animal needs tao-of-pooh
But isn't the knowledge that comes from experience more valuable than the knowledge that doesn't? It seems fairly obvious to some of us that a lot of scholars need to go outside and sniff around - walk through the grass, talk to the animals. That sort of thing.
clever heart mind
A clever mind is not a heart. Knowledge doesn't really care, wisdom does.
confused thinking awkward
The surest way to become Tense, Awkward, and Confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard - one that thinks too much.
simple saving obsession
The main problem with this great obsession for saving time is very simple: you can't save time. You can only spend it. But you can spend it wisely or foolishly.
curves rocks interesting
Without difficulties, life would be like a stream without rocks and curves – about as interesting as concrete. Without problems, there can be no personal growth, no group achievement, no progress of humanity. But what mattes about problems is what one does with them.
people understanding looks
Inner Nature, when relied on, cannot be fooled. But many people do not look at it or listen to it, and consequently do not understand themselves very much. Having little understanding of themselves, they have little respect for themselves, and are therefore easily influenced by others.
mean space goal
The honey doesn't taste so good once it is being eaten; the goal doesn't mean so much once it is reached; the reward is no so rewarding once it has been given. If we add up all the rewards in our lives, we won't have very much. But if we add up the spaces *between* the rewards, we'll come up with quite a bit. And if we add up the rewards *and* the spaces, then we'll have everything - every minute of the time that we spent.
jobs responsibility angel
Thousands of years ago, man lived in harmony with the rest of the natural world. Through what we would today call Telepathy, he communicated with animals, plants, and other forms of life-none of which he considered "beneath" himself, only different, with different jobs to perform. He worked side by side with earth angels and nature spirits, with whom he shared responsibility for taking care of the world.