I had more or less forgotten that at one point I sent this synopsis to various publishers for consideration, but none of them thought it was worth exploring further. On reading this again I still like the idea, however, and think it could have sold enough to make some publisher some money.
THE SUFI WISDOM OF WINNIE-THE-POOH
Synopsis
Many years have passed since Christopher Robin left his childhood home and the magical friends that he knew there. He has travelled and studied and grown to be a man, but the more he learns the less he feels he understands. The more he knows, the more he feels the more there is to know.
Dazed from his studies, confused by his life, and awestruck by the universe, he decides to take some rest and relaxation and return to the scene of those more carefree times when his most enjoyable pastime was doing nothing.
On a warm afternoon, almost without thinking, he wanders to the top of the Forest where he arrives at that enchanted place called Galleons Lap. And there he sits and reflects on lost innocence, and remembers how he said farewell to Sir Pooh de Bear so long ago. And then an EXTRAORDINARY THING happens.
For suddenly, sitting beside him is Pooh, and after he recovers from the shock he discovers that Pooh is so much more than the simple bear he remembers from his childhood. He is still lovable, of course, but somehow not so simple any more. And they sit and discuss life, and the way things work, and the meaning of everything.
So there you have a book, which describes their conversations as they carry on for days, with Christopher Robin telling of all the things that he has learnt, and Pooh asking just the right questions to make it necessary to look at things from a different point of view.
With so much to say, the conversations go on for a week, but fortunately each day seems to focus on a theme, which happens to be very convenient for book sections or chapters. I think Pooh would probably call them “Words & Meaning”, “Numbers & Measure”, “The Material World”, “Human Experience” and “Searching for Signs” – so I will too.
(P.S. If you are wondering how a week gets to be five days, remember Christopher Robin has to get there and get back again.)
What comes next?
Of course it is quite impossible to say all that has to be said in five days, and there is much more said in weeks that follow. But these weeks have books all to themselves, which only get published (as is the way with publishing) after the runaway success of “The Sufi Wisdom of Winnie-the-Pooh”.
They do have proposed titles, however, which are “The Islamic Inedibility of Piglet”, “The Islamic Ironies of Eeyore” and “The Sufi Springs of Tigger Wisdom”, all to be sold as a nice boxed set with the collection having the overall title of “Now We Are”.
What Sufi Wisdom is taught by Pooh?
Such wisdom is greatly in evidence in the chapters of the original books, though not always explicit. Hidden beneath the surface, however, there is clearly enough spiritual wisdom on offer to fill four books and a dozen more.
Consider these topics for example:
Winnie-the-Pooh
1. In which we are introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and some Bees, and the stories begin
a.
The healing power of honey
b.
Gravity and Earthly Attraction
c.
CR’s lightness of breath
d.
Camouflage, war & deception, truth
e.
Welcome clouds, lifegiving rain
f.
Feminine power of the Queen
g.
Deflation of the puffed up
h.
The fixed positions of habit
i.
Bouncing off stairs
2. In which Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place
The consequences of eating to excess
The magic of music
Visiting neighbours
Approaching by front doors
Lies and confusions
Giving hospitality
Moderation and temptation
The unworthiness of stomachs
Outstaying welcomes
j.
Fasting
k.
Unexpected usefulness
l.
The importance of reading
m.
The power of community
3. In which Pooh and Piglet go hunting and nearly catch a Woozle
Fear of the reflected self
The indication of trees
Naming names (Adam & 99)
Searching for signs
The memory of grandfathers
Multiples of one
The time to do things
Taking the overview
Out of all danger
Self delusion
The gift of luncheon (rizq)
4. In which Eeyore loses a tail and Pooh finds one
Loss and reconciliation
The hostility of thistles
Essential questions
The importance of extremities
The ‘is’ness of material things
Apportioning blame
The regeneration of landscape
The search for knowledge
Combinations of letters
Great compassion
Use of long words
The giver of reward
Hunger deafness
n.
Attachment
o.
Reconciliation (Joseph)
p.
Celebration
5. In which Piglet meets a Heffalump
The perils of temptation
Imaginary creatures
Decisions of Intent
Cunning traps (Shaitan)
Making plans
Forgetfulness
Sleep, dreams and imagination
Fear and bravery
Breaking free
6. In which Eeyore has a birthday and gets two presents
The pleasures of giving
The slough of despond
The need for sadness (Prophet’s tears, polarity of happiness)
Riddles and the limits of logic
The miracle of birth
The cycle of the years
Standing outside
The usefulness of spaces
Washing and cleanliness
The need to read
The construction of language
Haste and speed
The big bang
Matters of balance
Favourite colours
Complementarity
7. In which Kanga and Baby Roo come to the Forest, and Piglet has a bath
The usual way of getting here
Meeting strangers
The inconsistency of numbers
Implications and meanings
The usefulness of small things
The emotional effect of the seasons
The softness of sandy particles
The variety of fish and birds
Distractions
Practical jokes
Bathing and hygiene
Medicines
Unpleasantness of taste
Moderation of cleanliness
Clean dust
8. In which Christopher Robin leads an expotition to the North Pole
Stilling the mind for inspiration
Search and discovery
Provision
Prediction from coincidence
Seeds on the wind
Complaint
Deflection of blame
The need for silence
An extraordinary affection for beetles
Consideration and thought for others
Washing behind the ears
Swimming
Accidental discoveries
Coldness and lack of feeling
Revivification
9. In which Piglet is entirely surrounded by water
Floods
Means of escape
Messages in bottles
An inability to swim
Exhaustion of resources
Floating
High ground and islands
Inversion
Rescue by friends
10. In which Christopher Robin gives a Pooh Party, and we say good-bye
Celebrations
Dream songs
Mistrust and doubt
The benefits of milk
Presents
Implements for writing
Excited anticipation
House at Pooh Corner
Contradiction
The evanescence of dreams
11. In which a house is built at Pooh Corner for Eeyore
Thinking walks
Clocks versus time
The house and home
Gratitude for lack of earthquakes
The power of wind
Brains and hard work
12. In which Tigger comes to the Forest and has Breakfast
Elaboration of greetings
Liking everything
Hospitality to strangers
Self and reflections
Paranoid self-defence
Social manners
Pain and heat
Letting things come
One man’s meat is another man’s medicine
Gaining strength
13. In which a search is organdized, and Piglet nearly meets the Heffalump again
Counting
Organizing
Searching
Remembering
Putting things in order
Fear of large animals
Mental conversations
Singing for courage
Feeling foolish
Sea and sailors
Searching for the already found
14. In which it is shown that Tiggers don’t climb trees
Visiting friends
Getting fatter
Acorns to oaktrees
Planting seeds
Counting things
Exaggerated self-opinion
Not putting self to test
The impossibility of return
Unnecessary fear
Cries for help
The meaning of weather, or not
Uncertainty of negative consequences
Accidents
Flying downwards
Soft landing
q.
Thanks for discomfort, ironic or not
15. In which Rabbit has a busy day, and we learn what Christopher Robin does in the mornings
Message bearing
Directing affairs
Unconcern for instruction
Helping for oneself
Engendering unwarranted excitement
The self-importance of thinkers
Hiding lack of understanding
More various creatures
Inspiration entering no-brain
Making the effort
Offering beauty
Reading, learning and educations
Envy of others
Rejection of learning
Correctness of spelling
16. In which Pooh invents a new game and Eeyore joins in
Streams into rivers
Youth into age and relative speed
Tracks, roads and bridges
The mysteries of fir tree ownership
Travelling by water
Inequality, racing and counting
Vocal enthusiasm
Floating out of control
Circular eddies
Making waves
Taking control
The shoreside wetness of bathing
The destructive nature of bouncing
Coughs and taking by surprise
Mathematics
Confusion of voices
Credit for accidents
r.
Humility and self-disparagement
17. In which Tigger is unbounced
Sounds of the Forest
Teaching lessons
Fluff in the ears
The desire for others sorrow and smallness
More exploring
The art of persuasion
Cold and mist
Manipulation of situations
Hiding not helping
The way home
Right and left
Self-elected leadership
Showing unconcern
Misplaced certainty
The call of food
The joy of the familiar
18. In which Piglet does a very grand thing
Special places
Thinking and wondering
Autumn gales
Falling leaves
Reasons for doing
Cleverness and lack of understanding
Irony
The shelter of trees
Exposure of ears
Blown down houses
Attachment of blame
Invention of new words
The problem of escape
Necessary muscles
Saved by small persons
19. In which Eeyore finds the Wolery and Owl moves into it
Messages for the illiterate
Being found by inspiration
Songs in praise of heroes
Give and take and exchange of thoughts
Seven verses of hum
Poetic license becoming history
The precious nature of familiar property
The need to breathe
Sharing houses
20. In which Christopher Robin and Pooh come to an enchanted place, and we leave them there
Leaving old friends
Applause
Embarrassment at sadness
Taking comfort
The pleasure of anticipation
Doing nothing
The enchantment of circles (prayer)
Silence
Wishing it wouldn’t stop
The honour of knights
The glory of kings
Presence in absence
Age and understanding
Wisdom and innocence