Tim

1. “My words are very easy to understand and very easy to put into practice.” But “straightforward words seem paradoxical…” What does this mean? How does it come into play in The Tao of Pooh with regard to scholars?

I think this quote is suggesting how Taoist teachings are always simple and easy to understand. In another word, Taoists value simplicity. However, most of the scholars try to think deeply and try to understand the complicated hidden meaning. So, for the scholars, straight words of Taoists can be very hard to interpret because the scholars think too much, and this could possibly lead to misinterpretation and wrong knowledge.

2. Read the poem on page 30. What does Pooh seem to think about scholars? How does that relater to the Taoist view of Knowledge?

Pooh seems to present the scholars as the people who do not know how to enjoy the beauty of nature. Scholars would analyze, name natures and think too much about it. As the results, most of the scholars do not see the nature as it is. To Taoists, this analyzing and thinking are totally useless. One of their main thoughts is to look at the nature as it is without thinking, and enjoy its beauty.

3. What are the messages behind Cottlestone Pie 38-40 and 56? Think about inner nature?

The main message is that everything has its own place to belong. You should always respect you inner nature and where you belong. You should know your limit. Just like bird can fly but fly cannot bird, everything has its own place to belong. You have to know yourself very well to understand others. But according to the author, many people live without knowing its inner nature.