I thought the Tao of Pooh was a very well written book. I enjoyed the way Benjamin Hoff used a well known character to explain the religion of Taoism. By doing this it made the book a lot easier to read and understand. He used very vivid descriptions of paintings and comical confusions between Pooh Tao-tse and Wu Tao-tse which to me made this book very interesting.
I completely agree with the comparison of Americans to bisy backsons. After reading this book I can say that I myself am a bisy backson. “He works when he works, works when he exercises, and, more often than not, works when he plays. Work, work, work. All work and no play makes Backsoin a dull boy.” I can relate to this quote from the book. I spend a lot of time running from this to that on a day to day basis. I rarely have time where I can actually sit down and just relax without worrying about something that has to be done. My days are stacked with classes, service learning, homework, and work in between. I'm often tired and hardly ever well rested and I never have time to simply “stop and smell the roses”.
I also agree with the idea that many people think their reward is beyond the rainbow. I feel that as a college student many people expect us to struggle and work hard. The idea is that many students graduate college with a ton of loans to pay off and are supposed to work extra hard in hopes of reaching their reward of a better life when in fact we already have our reward of life itself.
I don’t think that Taoism is the solution to the problems of Americans but I do believe that it can help. I think that we as Americans are too concerned with being the best which makes us “bisy” with trying to compete with each other. I think that Taoism can help us find time to just relax and enjoy our lives the way that they are, not for what we want them to be.
I totally agree with you on being a backson, I am one myself. Everyday it is the same routine class then work then school work and extra just as you service learning and extra credits all just to get a reward, we work hard to get a reward that many don't take advantage of because of the struggle. It's not always fun and games a college students with success comes a lot of worries and stress. I love the quote in the beginning of the book "A thousand mile journey starts with one step". Just living life is not as easy as it seems though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments on the bisy backsons. I too have foun that I am very much a bisy backson. While this goes against the Taoist point of view I can't help but wonder that if you were naturally a bisy backson wouldnt that be going with the tao?
ReplyDeleteI feel that I was in the same boat with you in regards to the way the author delivered his information of Taoism through Pooh and his friends. I also agree with on your view as bisy backsons. College students, I feel have no choice but to become bisy backson if they want to graduate. I find myself at times overwhelmed and therefore staying up late nights to finish something by its deadline. Overall, your post was good and I enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that this book was a alot eaiser to read and understand the concepts of Taoism. also relating the characteristics of the characters of winnie the pooh, to taoism made it easier to follow throughout the whole book. You may have a point that Taoism is not a solution,because it is hard to step back from the busy life to just relax, but there should a time where we should follow those ways
ReplyDeleteKelveisha,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your points regarding the "bisy backsons." However, I am left with an internal dilemma. You portray the ambivalence very clearly and give very powerful and vivid examples from your own life and schedule to make the point. However, I think globally American has the desire to 'be the best country,' which cannot happen without such a busy work ethic and such a drive. In the process that makes us lose the ability to 'stop and smell the roses.' I definitely agree with you. However, do you think that living in this sort of busy system has caused Americans as a whole to lose their happiness? - it's a question I have pondered since reading the book and would be interested in your thoughts.
-Kunal
I completely agree with you when it comes to the Busy Backsons. Every day I find myself going to class, studying, working and doing other things instead of taking time out to relax. I think that its important not just for Americans, but all people to make time for themselves and at times have sort of a "go with the flow attitude".
ReplyDeleteI too would consider myself a bisy backson because I go to class, study, do homework, and it seems that every day it's the same routine. Although it seems that we, typical Americans, don't really have time to just relax, I don't really feel that it's absolutely necessary in my life as a taoist might try to presuade me into thinking. I like to stay busy or else I feel lazy and unproductive or maybe I've just lived in this country too long lol
ReplyDeleteI agree that Taoism is not necessarily the solution to the problem of Americans as busy backsons but it can help. I myself am a busy backson, but responsibilities in my life wont allow me to have a moment to just relax. What makes Americans different is the fact that they tend to complain a lot which is why Hoff used Pooh as the perfect example to represent Taoism. What I have learned, and what pooh represents, is that you have to just go with the flow of things or at least not complain when things arent favorable.
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