Zach Wilson--Outside Reading 4

I loved the A.A. Milne Winnie the Pooh series as a kid, and my parents frequently read it to me as a bedtime story.  The series was taken and used to explain Eastern religion by Benjamin Hoff in his book, The Tao of Pooh.  The religion/philosophy of Daoism largely deals with the Dao, or the essence of everything that exists.  Pooh is portrayed as a Western example from popular culture and literature to explain what the essence of Dao is.  Pooh is an easy-going bear, who demonstrates the daoist principle of wu-wei, or action through inaction. 
Pooh's character always put me at peace before going to bed, as there was a lack of monsters or a clear protagonist in the stories, and they just served as a chronicling of the life of a friendly bear.  Pooh represents the Three Treasures of Daoism throughout the books, Compassion, Moderation, and Humility.  Pooh is unaffected by the putting-up-of-appearances of Owl, the depression of Eeyore, the desensitization of Rabbit, the inferiority-complex of Piglet, or the foolishness of Tigger.  He is a simple character, who is affected by the world around him, but is yet not affected.  He is somewhat dumb, but is also simple and wise and profound.  He is at peace with himself, and understands his place within the Hundred Acre Wood, and is comfortable and happy.