Cottleston Pie

"The Tao of Pooh" is a new incarnation of  Lao-Tsu, the ancient Chinese sage from whom Taoism first arose. Benjamin Hoff's tells of the teachings of the Toa in a fun and enjoyable manner. Each principle is explored through the eyes of the lovable characters of A.A Milne. Hoff's book makes it quite clear: "Eeyore frets, and Piglet hesitates, and Rabbit calculates, and Owl pontificates. Pooh just is." Pooh doesn't fret or hesitate or calculate or pontificate: He is blessed with an indefinable something, a grace that gets him past all the anxiety-driven craziness of those about him. he doesn't think very far ahead, maybe not beyond breakfast. He redeems every situation. He lives in the present. He goes for the sweet stuff, the honey. Blessed are those who go and do likewise.

Pooh's nonsense songs are songs of uncommon sense, though it may seem hard to get at, like the honey in the very bottom of the honey pot.  In "Cottleston Pie" Benjamin Hoff gives us a "Tao of Pooh" interpretation of the three riddles in the song. May I remind you how it goes?

Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,

A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly.

Ask me a riddle and I reply ...

Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,

A fish can't whistle and neither can I,

Ask me a riddle and I reply ...

Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie,

Why does a chicken, I don't know why.

Ask me a riddle and I reply,

Cottleston, Cottleston, ..."

you know what.

First riddle: "A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly." Nonsense or uncommon sense? People are forever striving to be what they are not because they ignore "the clear reality of Things As They Are." The Cottleston Pie Principle says: Know your Inner Nature. Do not be alienated from yourself, forever in tension, trying to make yourself into something you are not. Accept that you are acceptable at the deepest level of your being. Come as you are. Cherish your integrity. Be attentive to your spiritual life. Seek your center, the place where your freedom resides. Take time, at regular intervals, to relax into yourself and appreciate your Inner Nature.

As yourself, when you need reminding, How could I ever have not known that "a fly can't bird but a bird can fly"? Let yourself laugh at yourself sometimes. And you'll begin to enjoy other people more, too. You'll know that they have Inner Natures of their own, and you'll enjoy the differences between you rather than being distressed by them. Let go of control sometimes. Rather than joining in Rabbit's clever scheme to drive Kanga and Roo out of the forest because they are different, you'll join in creating a community of mutual respect and enjoyment -- and compassion for the thorn-pierced foot.

Second riddle: "A fish can't whistle and neither can I." According to Benjamin Hoff, "Coming from a wise mind, such a statement would mean, 'I have certain limitations, and I know what they are.' ... There's nothing wrong with not being able to whistle, especially if you are a fish. But much is wrong with blindly trying to do what you aren't designed for."

In "Winnie the Pooh," Tigger and Roo are walking through the forest one morning and Tigger is talking about all the things Tiggers can do: " 'Can they fly?' asked Roo. 'Yes,' said Tigger, 'they're very good fliers, Tiggers are, 'stronry good flyers.' 'Oo!' said Roo. 'Can they fly as well as Owl?' 'Yes,' said Tigger. 'Only they don't want to.' " A little later, Christopher Robin and his friends have to rescue Tigger from the limb of a tree onto which he has climbed, letting him drop into a blanket, ker-plop!

Maybe you have known people like that. Or maybe you've had to be rescued from a limb or two you've climbed out on yourself.  People who care will cushion your fall. Here's another way the personal side of life is linked to the community: We are forever bumping up against our limitations in unexpected ways; but with the caring concern of others, we can learn from these bumps. Knowing that "a fish can't whistle and neither can I" does not deny the possibility of learning and growth; owning your limitations is the basis of spiritual learning and growth.

Pooh's third Cottleston Pie riddle asks: "Why does a chicken, I don't know why." Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. Why does he want to get to the other side, or wherever a chicken might want to go? We don't know, and I suppose the chicken doesn't fully understand it, either. Instinct is the scientific-sounding answer; but appeal to instinct really means: We don't know, and probably nobody else does, either. We could as well say: The chicken is acting in accord with its Inner Nature and its Limitations. But then we'd need to add: Even these do not determine what it will do, for the chicken does what it wants to do, we know not why. In the end it is unlimited, at liberty. And so are we who live within the Unlimited, a reality that is mysterious and transcends us absolutely. Lao-Tsu calls it the Tao. The freedom to choose what we will do and what we would become is our clearest link to ultimate reality.