HaJung+Kim

What does this mean? How does it come into play in //The Tao of Pooh// with regards to scholars?

The quote seems to mean that understanding is not difficult but saying somethings straightforward without making any changes may be looked as paradoxical. Also, it seems to mean the fact that Taoism is quite simple and it is based on simplicity for the most, so understanding and practicing the Taoism and other related activities are not that difficult. When it says about straightforward words seem paradoxical, it is meaning that if it is not out into any specific meanings or in a unique way, it may not always make sense and show the paradoxical meaning that could be compared and contrasted among Taoism. It plays a role in the Tao of Pooh along with scholars because the scholars present ideas on meanings and one of this quote is said by the scholar.

Read the poem on page 30. What does Pooh seem to think about scholars? How does this relate to the taoist view of knowledge?

Pooh seems to think that scholars are important and necessary and provide a lot of information, however, they have their own dull way of teaching. Also, it seems to represent how Pooh has different point of view on scholars because it explains about "Something More" and how that "Something" is what everything is really about. The poem on the other hand seems to symbolize simplicity of Taoist life and the complex questions that lead out of the view of simplicity. On the last line of all the stanzas, it mentions about how which is which and what is what and such, it is saying that the scholars can be confusing and too complex to have a simple life. Even though they are important figures, Pooh still seems to think that living simple is easy and the best way to live one's life.