Avatar spirituality

It’s hard to fill a cup that’s already full.

-Pit (played by CCH Pounder) in Avatar (2009).

Neytiri’s mother at James Cameron’s Avatar, Mo’at, is the Tsahik (Righteous, shaman or spiritual teacher) of the Omaticaya clan (the Na’vi). In the quote above meeting him in avatar form, she notes, as do others in the clan, the arrogant, arrogant pride in Sam Worthington’s character, Jake Sully. And this is essential.

Human pride of conquest and Na’vi humility are divergently central to the plot of Avatar.

It is fascinating then how this film turns the viewer against their own species, the human race, by virtue of the fact that arrogant and ignorant pride is disgusting everywhere. We just can’t bear to see someone whose cup overflows in selfish conquest; the know-it-all’s inability to learn; the arrogance of my-way-or-the-highway.

Normally we would expect to see slander of the phrase ‘the cup overflows’ in the opposite genre, that of the spiritual phenomenon of being filled internally, although of external origin, that is, not of ourselves, but of God: the inspiration of the Spirit.

the plot of Avatar It effectively remedies the problems of Jake Sully’s character, as he shows that his cup has room to be filled with the traditions, skills, and practices of the Na’vi. Learning is central.

And therefore it is a key principle of the spiritually humble life: that capacity to learn. Jake’s interest in the Na’vi was at his heart. He has an unprecedented heart. It’s enough to ensure your’ madness [of spiritual pride] could be cured.

And the fact that a large majority would like to deny is this:

We naturally gravitate toward the spiritual when our positive emotions[1] they are typed. And we are creatures of emotion. This can definitely be said because our entire world intuits emotions, look at the things we adore. Everyone loves something/s.

The Na’vi (according to indigenous lore) are incredibly spiritual and share a connection that is difficult to describe. The sehalo ties they establish with the creatures and environment of Pandora prove this connection, a connection that implies interdependence that is, the rejection of the overflowing cup due to sinful pride.

It is interdependence that defines our union, our teamwork; our collective contributions to the whole, which is greater than than the sum of its individual parts.

The spiritual principle of Avatar It is one of the basic principles of life. To the uninitiated it presents a pride-humble continuum, a daunting paradox.

When our cup overflows, it makes a vast world of difference, because at one end of the scale we can be hated; in the other, admired, separated and honored. One extreme, pride; the other, humility. At one extreme, there is nothing to learn, we know everything. On the other, something can be learned everywhere, in every situation.

Who could not simply admire the latter, the most humble person, the apprentice?

The character trait of humility – to learn, aspire, achieve, honor – is inherent in indigenous peoples around the world and is admired by all because of the code of life it represents.

© 2009 SJ Wickham.

[1] By ‘positive emotions’ I mean those devoid of selfishness.