The Te of Piglet

Rating:
Summary: Cute book for a lazy day
Review: This is a fun little book to read on a hot summer day when your inside and have nothing else to do.

Rating:
Summary: The virtue of the small
Review: If Pooh is the embodiment of the Tao, the Piglet is the embodiment of the Te, the Chinese word and principle for Virtue. Benjamin Hoff, in his first book 'The Tao of Pooh' talks about the religio-philosophical tradition of Taoism, and in this follow-up book, he explores in more detail with Piglet, who felt neglected in the first volume, but felt it only natural considering he's a Very Small Animal (and life is not always easy for a Very Small Animal), the concept of virtue, or the Te.

The Te is not so easily contained in the word virtue, however. 'It is instead a quality of special character, spiritual strength, or hidden potential unique to the individual--something that comes from the Inner Nature of things. And something, we might add, that the individual who possess it may be quite unaware of--as is the case with Piglet through most of the Pooh stories.'

Of course, virtue un-enacted is a Very Small Virtue, indeed, so it become the responsibility of those with a Te to bring it forward in transformation. A Very Small Virtue, like a Very Small Animal, can be a good thing if the dreaded Heffalump comes by -- it might not get squashed; it might be ignored. But this is not the way of the Te.

The Te such as Piglet's can overcome distraction such as the Tigger Tendency -- the tendency to bounce off in different directions simply because they feel good. It can also help overcome the increasing drive toward acquisition (a Very Small Animal doesn't need Very Many Things; a society with cares for Virtue must not have an overpowering care for Things).

The modern person tends to overlook the small virtues in favour of Progress, in pursuit of reaching a potential, which 'is seen as an increase of tools'. Of course, with more tools we can do more stuff! And with more stuff, we can make yet more tools!

The trend is not only material, but academic and philosophical, too. 'Western philosophy, having little connection with everyday living, is (to this observer, at least) comparatively egocentric and impractical, with much Arguing and Theorising, and much bounding back and forth across the intellectual landscape--a pleasant, part-time diversion formulated by and aimed at the likes of Owl, Rabbit, and sometimes Eeyore, but not particularly supportive of the likes of Piglet and Pooh.'

Of course, one has an image to maintain, too. This is the point of existence of some Owls, who must be able to spell TUESDAY to gain respect, even if they postulate that any 'variant' of the spelling is sufficient. (Some lessons are repeated from The Tao of Pooh, because they are Very Important Lessons, and some people won't read both books, being of Very Little Time).

The Te is subtle and compassionate. It is not vocal, it is not loud. Lao-tse wrote, 'The skilled worker leaves no tracks' -- the worker is so at one with nature that no disturbance is made. Certainly making a broad show of Virtue is to cause a disturbance.

And yet, it is vital that virtue be prominent in action and life. What is a Very Small Animal to do?

After much more searching and being, Piglet arrives at the stage where he can finally be positive, to ward off the Eeyore effects, and thus attract positive with positive, attract virtue with virtue, in a low-key and subtle form. And finally, Piglet, a Very Small Animal of seemingly no consequence, attains recognition: 'Piglet, Esq. My Dear Sir: The Board of Regents of Sandhurst University wish me to inform you of their desire to grant you an honorary degree of Brave Animal (B.A.). We should be most pleased if you could be present at the awards ceremony, which shall be held on...'

Piglets in the world, unite! Take a lesson, perhaps from one of the most Piglet-y figures of our century, Mohandas Gandhi -- a frail and shy man, frightened by crowds and a Very Small Animal in many ways. But with a great and irresistably subtle Te, virtue, that defeated the greatest empire on earth (a Very Big Animal indeed) without an army, and without backing down.

Every ending is a beginning. Now Piglet's tale is over. Now you must begin.

Rating:
Summary: Several insightful thoughts, but a bit of track
Review: I read this book right after I finished with the Tao of Pooh (which is far better). I was going to give it 3.5 stars, but chose 4 since it contains quite a number of insights and wisdom.

I found the author got off track by deviating into his comments on politics and how he thought a country should be run. For me that sidetrack quite spoiled the good flow of the book and distracts the focus on Taoism--which the Tao of Pooh book did so well. Nevertheless, I believe it's worth a read if you don't have a top priority book on your list.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Stuff
Review: Hoff uses the Te of Piglet both as a platform to illustrate some Taoist principles and a platform to show how out of wack our current "ideal lifestyle" is so far from that. A lot of the earlier reviews complain that Hoff uses the book to bash Republicans and Woman he does neither. He uses the book to point out the hypocrisy between what certain segments of our population say and then do, the funny thing is the book was published in 1993, and his points are more poignant now then perhaps they were even then. This is the first time I've ever written a reviw on amazon[.com] but the Te of Piglet is that good of a book. The Tao of Pooh was a great book, but it's sort of like life as it could be, the Te of Piglet is more about about Taoism from life as it is. I think that's why so many people like the Tao of Pooh more...it's much easier to like an idealization of a place a thousand years in the past (or in fiction) then it is to realize that Taoism isn't dead and we need to actively find it or we get the Confused, and Destructive world we currently have.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is an amazing book. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new way to view the world, that doesn't attempt to supplant previous belief systems. Through explanation of the different characters in the Hundred Acre Wood, the author makes it possible for individuals to learn not only about themselves, but perhaps those around them.
I think the key issue that I will remember out of this book is that of Win Wei, or effortless action. The entire concept of completing BY remaining is a fascinating one.
The author does go about bashing the Western World around the midpoint of the book, and that does get a bit tiring. However, don't fret, for it doesn't last for long.
The introduction of the characters infrequently interrupting the author is a nice touch. It makes the book a joy to read, something you have to put down every so often just to reflect.

Rating:
Summary: Too little Piglet, too much Hoff and puff
Review: This book doesn't compare with Hoff's earlier book, The Tao of Pooh. It's chock full of the author's dated personal political leanings and limited perspectives. Sure, there were a few nuggets to enjoy and tease the mind, but on the whole it was disappointing. I thoroughly enjoyed The Tao of Pooh, and just bought another copy as a gift, but I wouldn't recommend The Te of Piglet to any discerning reader.

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Summary: Confused Reader
Review: I don't mean to be an Eeyore here, and I certainly don't mean to be critical, but I had trouble figuring out exactly what this book has to do with Taoism. One of the central themes I've found in Taoist and Buddhist approaches to life is that criticizing and rejecting things is a sure-fire route to unhappiness. Many of the passages in this book seem to have more to do with Dennis Miller rants than with Taoism. I found myself becoming a little more tense, critical, and rejecting reading it, in stark contrast to the reactions I have when I meditate or read Taoist or Buddhist literature. Reaching Balance is not achieved by criticism, but by acceptance and gentle redirection.

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Summary: Missing the Hundred Acre Wood By Looking At the Trees
Review: I've read several reviews of this book that, in my small viewpoint seem to miss the greater lesson. Hoff's first book explained the basic principles of Taoism to the uninitiated Western reader. Inthis book, the author takes those principles and applies them to our world. Mr. Hoff has merely taken the next logical step in the progression of learning.
When he makes references to politics, ecology and social problems, he is merely using examples to illustrate how we have grown away from the "the Way". It is entirely proper for him, as a teacher and a writer, to give examples to prove his point. Were he not to use examples, he would be criticized for that, as well.
This book is a very well written continuation of the premise established in his first book. I would encourage anyone to read this and to include it on the "must read" list of any high school or college student.

Rating:
Summary: This is clearly the way
Review: Introduced many years ago, and covering philosophy that has stood the test of time, The Te of Piglet is a wonderful companion to The Tao of Pooh. It focuses in on the element of change in a modern world. Illustrates some of the same priciples found in The Tao of Pooh in a new light. Enjoyable light reading.

Rating:
Summary: Not as pithy as the Tao of Pooh
Review: The "Te of Piglet" was written as a companion to "The Tao of Pooh," which was written about ten years prior to this. Since the Piglet book was written in 1992, perhaps we will be hearing of another such book from Hoff.

Although this book is almost 100 pages longer than "The Tao of Pooh," I could not shake feeling that I did not get as much information. There are more quotations (from Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian texts, as well as from the Pooh stories, Henry David Thoreau, and Arthur Conan Doyle) in this book to illustrate ideas. Hoff also uses examples of Dickens and Gandhi. Unfortunately, I feel that there are more quotes and less discussion of their meaning.

Much of the discussion concerns our world as we know it. This book has a more "political" slant to it, which makes me feel that he was getting off topic. I understand, upon reflection, that this is incorrect because the purpose of understanding Taoism is to see it in the everyday. The insight is appreciated, but I finished the book feeling more overwhelmed than empowered.

As a text to help us examine our lives, I would recommend this text.