Sean+D+Kim+and+Nancy+Kim-+The+Pooh+Way

= = The Pooh Way
 * Summary :**

Pooh is following the principle called //Wu Wei//. This belief stresses the importance of following occurrences as they flow, which the book refer to as "the Pooh Way.” Pooh and Piglet discuss how to live an effortless life. To give an example, they create an incident where Pooh, Rabbit and Piglet are on the bridge playing a game where they see whose stick when dropped will come above the surface the fastest. In this process, they spot Eeyore floating on the water. To practice Wu Wei, he has been waiting to be saved by others rather than trying to struggle himself . Then, Pooh drops a rock in the water, creating currents to push Eeyore up the shore naturally. In another instance, Pooh plans on giving Eeyore jar full of honey for his birthday present and Piglet hopes to give the balloon. However, on the way to Eeyore, Piglet pops the balloon and Pooh eats the honey. All these events occurred naturally; Pooh's jar is used as storage for something and Piglet's balloon is used as something to put inside a jar. Deducing from the plot, readers learn that when they leave things to work naturally, everything will work out just to be right.




 * Discussion Questions:**

1. What is the difference between Wu Wei and Laziness?

2. How would Confucianists respond to this idea of Wu Wei?



3. What are some similarities and differences between Wu-Wei and fatalism?

4. What could be possible consequences by whole society's abusing the idea of Wu Wei? What can be done to prevent these consequences and still follow Wu Wei?

5. "You are saying doctors play God all the time?" An interviewer asked Dr. Keborkian, who responded by saying, "Any time you interfere with a natural process, you are playing God." Are doctors "[interfering] with a natural process," forcing things to happen, therefore not practicing Wu-Wei?


 * Thematic Analysis**

The name of the chapter, the Pooh way, is the book's translation of Wu Wei, one of taoism's idea. The main principle of this belief is being effortless in living, for everything will work out fine at the end. Taoists also believe in fate, that everything happens for a good reason at the end. There is no need to try to make things happen. However, the clear distinction should be made, for people can abuse this concept to become sloth. This belief is more like, being happy for what you have right now, rather than struggling for a pointless goal. You do not have to be a millionaire or nobel-prize winner to live a happy life; you just have to relax and form a harmony with the nature, that is, to accept and enjoy the things that will happen to you. "Cape diem!" or seize the day! is what taoists want you to do: enjoy the natural flow of our world.