Book Review - The Te of Piglet
Benjamin Hoff Explores Virtue in his Follow-up to the Tao of Pooh
This much loved character from A.A. Milne's classic stories, a quiet, yet solid force in a small package, is capable of great transformation. He evaluates, worries, considers, ponders and then probably worries a bit more, but ultimately overcomes hurdles, breaks through barriers and survives adversity. He boasts stability, consistency, reliability and longevity.
In The Te of Piglet, Benjamin Hoff's hugely popular follow-up to the Tao of Pooh first published in 1992, it becomes clear that there is a lot to be learned from our little snout-nosed friend.
Hoff's approach to explaining the principles of Te (a Chinese word meaning virtue) is clear, colourful and accessible. You need not be a self-confessed traveller on a spiritual path, a student of philosophy or an human existentialism academic to appreciate what he has to say.
"Taoism has Always Been Fond of Small Animals"
As Hoff explains, there are disadvantages to being a small animal. Piglet may be overlooked, shunned, taken advantage of and his ideas dismissed, but if he sticks to his guns and maintains his integrity he is able to apply his smallness rather than ignore it and help many others by doing so.
The Te of Piglet combines insights from the wisdom of ancient Taoist teachings, reflections on westernized society, dialogues with Milne's endearing characters such as Kanga, Eeyore, Owl and Pooh himself and artist Ernest Shepard's beautiful illustrations to deliver an enlightening and inspiring piece, highly relevant to the world in which we live today. He touches on a range of issues from gender inequality to the abuse of power and from the destruction of the natural environment to mass media and the influence of the critics, but there is no hint of arrogance or self-righteousness.
"Eeyores are Realists, They Say. But Reality is What One Makes it."
Just as you will come across many Piglets in this life, you are also likely to meet the ailing Eeyores and the tireless Tiggers. Admittedly, the world would be a far less colourful place without these extreme individuals, but from time to time you may feel the need to protect yourself from their different excesses.
Whilst fearful Eeyore is the negative and fatalistic killjoy, bringing a dose of cynicism to every occasion and creating problems where problems don't exist, impulse-driven Tigger with his boundless energy and enthusiasm barely reaches the end of one journey before embarking upon another. The key seems to lie in moderation, kindness and a positive, yet wholly honest approach to life.
"Transforming Negative into Positive, You Work With Whatever Comes Your Way."
As one reads about the embodiment of the principles of Te in Piglet, there are regular reminders about how these truths can be brought to life in the daily routine. Achieve and accomplish through patience and perseverance, help others to realise their potential, be giving and generous in your words and actions, maintain a healthy perspective, don't get weighed down with the superficial and seek out the silver lining in every dark cloud. With all that in mind, long may the little piggy prosper.
Hoff, Benjamin. The Te of Piglet, 2003, Egmont Books Ltd, Great Britain. (ISBN: 1-4052-0427-3).
The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff
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