"Under Confucianism, the use of precisely measured court music, prescribed steps, actions, and phrases all added up to an extremely complex system of rituals, each used for a particular purpose at a particular time." -- Benjamin Hoff
Benjamin Hoff (born 1946) is an author based in the United States. Two of his books on Taoism, The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet, were on best seller lists. Hoff grew up in Sylvan, Oregon, where he acquired a fondness of the natural world that has been highly influential in his writing.
Hoff obtained a B.A. in Asian Art from The Evergreen State College in 1973. Prior to his career in writing, he worked as a tree pruner, antiques restorer, hospital orderly, investigative reporter, photojournalist, recording musician, singer, and songwriter. In his spare time, he practices Taoist yoga and Tai Chi Chuan.
In 2006, Hoff published an essay on his website titled Farewell to Authorship, in which he denounced the publishing industry and announced his resignation from book-writing. This is the only website he has officially endorsed or been involved with. As of August, 2010 the website displays a series of letters sent between Hoff and staffers from the Oregon Historical Society, where Hoff criticizes the OHS produced, "Oregon Experience: Opal Whiteley", claiming that many of the facts were ignored or untrue. Hoff wrote the 1986 book, "The Singing Creek Where the Willows Grow", a biography about Opal Whiteley which also includes her diary.
"As any old Taoist walking out of the woods can tell you, simple-minded does not necessarily mean stupid.""But the basic Taoism that we are concerned with here is simply a particular way of appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life.""From the Taoist point of view, the natural result of this harmonious way of living is happiness.""It means that Tao doesn't force or interfere with things, but lets them work in their own way, to produce results naturally. Then whatever needs to be done is done.""Life itself, when understood and utilized for what it is, is sweet.""Lots of people talk to animals... Not very many listen, though... That's the problem.""Pooh is able to accomplish what he does because he is simpleminded.""Practically everything from hairstyles to lifestyles is endorsed as some sort of drug to be taken Now for Instant Relief.""We simply need to believe in the power that's within us, and use it.""Well, it takes all kinds to make a mess."