The Tao Of Pooh

Chapter 4 reminds the reader that Rabbit attempts to rid the forest of Kanga and Roo because they are different. Rabbit has formed an opinion of them without basis in fact, as he later realizes. Kanga and Roo are unique, a term that speaks to their inner nature. It is difficult to articulate the meaning of inner nature, however, so Hoff uses what he calls “the Cottleston Pie Principle” to explain it. “Cottleston Pie,” a song in Winnie-the-Pooh, is quoted in this chapter, and it also serves as the epigraph of The Tao of Pooh.

The song’s first lines contain a riddle: "A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly" (39). Hoff says this means that there is no profit in ignoring reality. He likens this idea to attempting to fit a square peg into a round hole. “When you know and respect your own Inner Nature,” Hoff claims, “you know where you belong. You also know where you don't belong” (41).

To illustrate, Hoff presents the story of Chuang-tse, who is approached by representatives of the prince.