I completely agree with the way Hoff critiques American Culture. The Taoist believes that always being is not a good thing. He uses Rabbit to explain this theory. Rabbit is always in a hurry, being a bisy backson. "Bisy Backson" confuses exercise with work and activity with creativity. "The Bisy Backson is almost desperately active," (p. 93) says Benjamin Hoff. He adds, "Let's put it this way: if you want to be healthy, relaxed, and contented, just watch what a Bisy Backson does and then do the opposite." Often, in Western Society, we focus on the final product before we have begun the journey. When Pooh considers what he likes best in the world, he decides the "...moment ..." I think it is very important to not worry so much and take time to enjoy your surroundings. We get so consumed in our work that being busy is stressful and its important to stay content in the present moment. When we take the time to enjoy our surroundings and appreciate being alive, we find that we have no time to be Bisy Backsons anymore. But that’s all right, because being Bisy Backsons is a tremendous waste of time (p. 113).
I think by using the Taoist beliefs as a solution could really help our culture. I think it would do everyone some good to slow down and take in the present moment. By not being so busy all the time it can truly help people’s character and how they interact with others. Life can be more positive for everyone with a little Taoist insight.
I definately agree with you when you say that life can be a more positive if people are able to have a little taoist insight. After reading, I do think that is a great mind set, that provides a simplicity that we do lack a great deal. I really like the quote that you mentioned from page 113, and I think that, that could actually happen. If we were to slow down a little and enjoy our surroundings, I think that whole "Bisy Backson" way of thinking can actually fade.
ReplyDeleteHey! I really enjoyed reading through your post. I found your idea of involving "character" into the discussion to be particularly interesting. It's true that doing so many things at one time (many of them arbitrary) can cause people to lose track of what it is they actually should be doing. I certainly suppose that this could cause distortion of character as well. I never would have thought of it that way. Good thinking.
ReplyDeleteI thought your response to the Tao of pooh was interesting. I do agree that the book was easier to read because of ho simple Hoff made it.Doing so many things at once can be hectic, and sometimes they would things in such a hurry on the simplest of tasks. i also agree that you statement on Taoism can really help our culture, and it can change the way we are living now.
ReplyDeleteRachel,
ReplyDeleteI thought your comments were quite insightful. As someone who never watched Winnie-The-Pooh growing up, I had quite a different reaction to the effectiveness of those characters' roles in portraying the themes of Taoism. My views were in fact almost the exact opposite regarding the effectiveness of the characters than yours. However, from reading several other blogs it appears that everyone loved the connections, and almost all who claimed to love the connection watched the show as well. Perhaps not watching the show proved to lead me in a different interpretation than intended.
Nevertheless, your critique of the bisy backson is very correct in my view. I do believe that the Taoist views will lead to greater positive energy in our world. I hope that this increase in positive energy will also yield greater happiness in both short and long term as well.
-Kunal
I really liked this part of your blog
ReplyDelete"When Pooh considers what he likes best in the world, he decides the "...moment ..." I think it is very important to not worry so much and take time to enjoy your surroundings"
I can really agree with this. Often I find myself completely stressed out about something that I think is going to happen or about something that I know I have to do in the future. I definitely realize that I need to let go of my worry, because it is definitely not worth holding on to because it doesn't do any good; it just ruins the "moment".
I think your blog was really good. After reading this book I decided that I am going to start enjoying my time and not stressing so much about the little things that I cannot change. I definitely agree with you when you say that when you are not so busy it can help your relationship with other people. That is very true. You can see this occurring a lot in parent/child relationships when the parent is always working late, etc.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm late but this post is really good. I also thought deeply if A.A. Milne was actaully a Taoist and this was essentially what he was getting at the whole time he wrote the book. I do not want to be stressed out. I might even become a little bit of a Taoist now lol. No stress and go with the flow is the overall themes basically. Great to read :)
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