Tao+of+Pooh+Questions

The questions below should be answered on your wiki. Be brief, but be sure to have addressed each.


 * The Tao of Pooh Discussion Questions and Quotes**


 * 1) What is the significance of the painting Hoff describes named The Vinegar Tasters? (2)
 * 2) What is the theme of life according to Hoff’s interpretation of Taoism? (5-6)
 * 3) How does Hoff explain the “uncarved block” metaphor? (10)
 * 4) What is the secret message of the “uncarved block?” (2
 * 5) What was the main conflict between the Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff? (24)
 * 6) Which of Milne’s characters represent Confucianists and Taoists according to Hoff?
 * 7) What is Hoff’s opinion of Confucianist scholars? (26)
 * 8) What does Hoff say about knowledge vs. experience? (29)
 * 9) What do most scholars blame for problems in the world? Why isn’t it justified? (32)
 * 10) What is the difference between “cleverness” and “Inner Nature?” (38)
 * 11) Why is it important to discern your own Inner Nature? (41)
 * 12) Explain Hoff’s interpretation of the Chinese quote: “One disease, long life; No disease, short life.” (48)
 * 13) What does Hoff mean when he states that we must learn to “work with Things As They Are?” (50)
 * 14) What happens to people who do not listen to their Inner Nature? (57)
 * 15) What is the Way of Self-Reliance? (57-8)
 * 16) How can we change ourselves effectively through the principles of Taoism? (58)
 * 17) What is the Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way” according to Hoff? (67-8)
 * 18) How does the quote, “Tao does not do, but nothing is not done,” explain Wu Wei or “The Pooh Way?” (70)
 * 19) How does Tai Chi reflect Wu Wei or Taoism as a martial art? (87-8)
 * 20) Are you a Bisy Backson? (94)
 * 21) What is the Bisy Backson view of American history according to Hoff? (103-104)
 * 22) How does the Bisy Backson waste time by trying to save it? (108-109)
 * 23) What is the Youthful Immortal? (108-9)
 * 24) What makes us happy in life the goals or the process we go through to reach the goals? Why? (111)
 * 25) What is the significance of The Stonecutter? (118-9)
 * 26) Explain the significance of the following line from the Tao Te Ching: “From caring comes courage.” (128)
 * 27) Where does one find Wisdom, Happiness and Courage? (137)
 * 28) What is the “Great Nothing?” (143)
 * 29) Why is an “Empty sort of mind” so valuable according to Taoism? (146-7)
 * 30) Interpret the following quote: “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” (148-9)
 * 31) Why is the child the highest stage of development? (151)
 * 32) Why may knowledge and cleverness destroy life as we know it? (154)