Summary+for+Nowhere+and+Nothing,+The+Now+of+Pooh,+Backward

Summary __Joorhee Kwon

__ The last section of the 'Tao of Pooh' starts off with Pooh frantically following Christopher Robin to 'nowhere'. As the two discuss starts discussing what they enjoy doing, Christopher Robin brings up the fact that his favorite thing to do is 'nothing', and also that they are currently doing nothing. This is a very simple definition of the Great Secret, which Chuang Tse describes by using Consciousness as an example. Consciousness asks the Speechless Non-Doer, Impulsive Speech-Maker, and the Yellow Emperor three questions on understanding the Tao. The Yellow Emperor is the only one who can answer all three questions fully. The main point of this short tale is to introduce the fact that in Taoism, Nothing is something. This is what the Taoists call the 'Great Nothing'. Setting another example for a Chinese paradigm, Pooh (Empty Mind) bringing back Eeyore's tail (dark pearl of Tao). Pooh, the simple-minded character of the Tao of Pooh, was able to bring back the tail because no knowledge or cleverness was overstuffing his mind. The the concept of Emptiness is introduced, and also that after everything that seemed empty is filled, the Loneliness really begins. So after discarding the emptiness of the Big Congested Mess, one can discover the fullness of Nothing. 'In the forty-eighth chapter of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tse wrote, "To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day." Chung-tse described the principle in his own humorous way : "I am learning," Yen Hui said. "How?" the Master asked. "I forgot the rules of Righteousness and the levels of Benevolence," he replied. "Good, but could be better," the Master said. A few days later, Yen Hui remarked, "I am making progress." "How?" the Master asked. "I forgot the Rituals and the Music," he answered. "Better, but not perfect," the Master said. Some time later, Yen Hui told the Master, "Now I sit down and forget everything." The Master looked up, startled. "What do you mean, you forget everything?" he quickly asked. "I forget my body and senses, and leave all appearance and information behind," answered Yen Hui. "In the middle of Nothing, I join the Source of All Things." The Master bowed. "You have transcended the limitations of time and knowledge. I am far behind you. You have found the Way!"

The last part of the chapter is dedicated to viewing life in general - the process of becoming mature, but more importantly, the wisdom of Children Who Know. Children Who Know have empty minds from the 'countless minute somethings of small learning, and filled with the wisdom of the Great Nothing, the Way of the Universe', like Pooh. In the end, Christopher Robin and Pooh arrive at the Forest.

The main point of 'The Now of Pooh' is that everyone has an Owl, a Rabbit, an Eeyore, and a Pooh. Mankind has been an Owl and a Rabbit for a long time, and it is time to complain like an Eeyore. With a voice of a child's mind, we can never find our way through the Forest.

