Na'vi Tirea sì Vitra, how do they think?

[Tìrey Tsmukan]

Kaltxì frapo.

I've found myself wondering about the Na'vi spirit and soul, what do they believe? it's obvious they believe in a spirit, in this case a connection to Eywa when you die. they also believe that the 'atokirina are needed in transferring this energy. (scene of Neytiri placing a sprite on a dead man's body) I'm sure they feel the Tsaheylu is a sort of "Tether" for the spirit to pass between beings. beyond that, I'm not sure exactly. Do they feel there is a spirit that isn't concerned with Tsaheylu? a sort of energy that flows between everything but not through Tsaheylu. do they believe a type of Soul? do the believe dreams are an access to Eywa or the soul without dying or using the Tree of souls or a tree of voices? do they believe in a cosmic energy, (I'm thinking they do.) do they believe in a universe, or do they think the stars are spirits like the Native peoples did on Earth? these ideas has been discussed in other topics, but not in the same way that I'm asking.

Srak? fire away oeyä aysmuktu!

Eywa ngahu!

[Muzer]

Well, the word for star is the same as the one for the bioluminescent dots on their faces IIRC, so maybe they just thought of them as glowy dots? Lol, doesn't seem likely




Maybe they thought of the sky as a person (like how the planet is sort of a person, or more accurately the trees), but one who they can't talk to?

[Txur’Itan]

The parallels are incidental, and likely not literal.

Based on the Dialog in the movie...

What I think...

The Na'vi are thinking is that their loved ones are alive, and living that life within Eywa.

Spoiler: Where my mind think things are at.  With the language used to describe these things in the film.

On Earth.

The process of developing concepts of life after death spawned in the absence on knowledge save that which came from the mouths of humans and the hands of human scribes.  Within these faiths, those claimed knowledge of their God's will were referred to as profits in various religious texts and practices.

Now on Pandora

The Na'vi upload and download the contents of the mind to Eywa, which is the organ where all of their tangible essence is physically stored.  Philosophically, when one lacks the technical understanding of how this works, one is likely to think of ways to name or describe it.

The translation is where things become tricky.  Humans are not equally connected to the same understanding of the after life as each other, and would be even further disconnected from an understanding of a society, who could just go to a tree, and possibly have a chat, or just listen to the Chaos of those who have moved on.

Tree of Voices
Tree of Souls
Well of Souls
Voices/Spirits/Souls --

These are English words, and probably an approximation of what the Na'vi mean in their own languages original context, and this out of context translation would be what Grace and other translators would have been teaching the English speaking Na'vi when asking them to explain these things.  Words based on the religious context of humans, as this is where these English words are derived.

Based on the descriptions offered later in the movie, Grace does not appear to think they are storing souls, but memories, which would be more synonymous with the word tirea or vitra in the context of the currently known technicalities of the Na'vi afterlife.

Within the continuity of the progressing stories, I doubt that the translations will be modified to reflect this.  Over time it might have been documented in a more through entomology of the words, following that actual linguists were involved in determining more precise meanings of the words, what these words were supposed to stem from.

[Toruk Makto]

... With that in mind, I hope that James Cameron is talking to karyu Pawl about just such stuff. This language is going to have to grow in the direction of future films.

[Ohakya]

 Well, I think the Na'vi probably believe/think what Eywa wants them to think. Which could be a number of things, like what Neytiri said, "That all energy is borrowed, and one day must return." Like when the Na'vi man or woman died in the one scene, and Neytiri also said that "theres a deep connection that runs all throughout the forest." But I'm not quite sure, good question!

Eywa Ngahu!!

[Tìrey Tsmukan]

hmm, part of me is very surprised this topic hasn't really started anything. ah well.

The parallels are incidental, and likely not literal.

Based on the Dialog in the movie...

What I think...

The Na'vi are thinking is that their loved ones are alive, and living that life within Eywa.

Spoiler: Where my mind think things are at.  With the language used to describe these things in the film.

On Earth.

The process of developing concepts of life after death spawned in the absence on knowledge save that which came from the mouths of humans and the hands of human scribes.  Within these faiths, those claimed knowledge of their God's will were referred to as profits in various religious texts and practices.

Now on Pandora

The Na'vi upload and download the contents of the mind to Eywa, which is the organ where all of their tangible essence is physically stored.  Philosophically, when one lacks the technical understanding of how this works, one is likely to think of ways to name or describe it.

The translation is where things become tricky.  Humans are not equally connected to the same understanding of the after life as each other, and would be even further disconnected from an understanding of a society, who could just go to a tree, and possibly have a chat, or just listen to the Chaos of those who have moved on.

Tree of Voices
Tree of Souls
Well of Souls
Voices/Spirits/Souls --

These are English words, and probably an approximation of what the Na'vi mean in their own languages original context, and this out of context translation would be what Grace and other translators would have been teaching the English speaking Na'vi when asking them to explain these things.  Words based on the religious context of humans, as this is where these English words are derived.

Based on the descriptions offered later in the movie, Grace does not appear to think they are storing souls, but memories, which would be more synonymous with the word tirea or vitra in the context of the currently known technicalities of the Na'vi afterlife.

Within the continuity of the progressing stories, I doubt that the translations will be modified to reflect this.  Over time it might have been documented in a more through entomology of the words, following that actual linguists were involved in determining more precise meanings of the words, what these words were supposed to stem from.

I like what Txur'Itan said, but that is almost purely concerned with linguistics, and so I cannot say much on that subject. But it is definitely a topic with which I hope JC and Karyu pawl speak of.

Well, I think the Na'vi probably believe/think what Eywa wants them to think. Which could be a number of things, like what Neytiri said, "That all energy is borrowed, and one day must return." Like when the Na'vi man or woman died in the one scene, and Neytiri also said that "theres a deep connection that runs all throughout the forest." But I'm not quite sure, good question!

Eywa Ngahu!!

Perhaps what Neytiri means by energy is a spirit? When you look at some other cultures, you see there is a coincidence among almost all of them, the spirit goes somewhere. Here, the energy is returning to Eywa; as memories, feelings, emotions, and from what I understand, in an only basic existence. Meaning just what it sounds like, only energy. That seems erroneous to me, as as almost all other culture believe that the spirit retains it's identity, existence, and overall personality. So, what does it all translate too? do they believe in reincarnation, in which case the spirit is stored as memories, then replaced in a physical body later. Do they believe that all spirits stay with Eywa for all time? in which case the memories would begin to become a cacophony of information and data. These are all paths that could come after death, and I'm not asking for a definite answer, of course, I just want to hear others ideas.

on the second quote, "there's a deep connection that runs all throughout the forest," could simply be a meaning of the circle of life. Everything effects everything else. Or it could be a spiritual connection, everything is there for a reason, or that each life is sacred. this second question reminds me of another Neytiri quote, "they did not need to die." This implies that she believes that their spirits were lost or somehow maimed. otherwise she would have put it off as fate, or cosmic destiny. This may mean several things, She does not believe in reincarnation, because if she did she would have been perhaps less angry, but still seeing it as a loss. She does not believe in fate, as I've already covered. And a few others that for some reason are evading my mind at the moment. This all points to one fact, she saw it as a loss. it makes me wonder if the Na'vi believe that the Animals go to Eywa as well... (though they probably do)

ahh, my head is all tired now. I'm going to think about this more, for now, I hope you're minds are more productive than mine.

Eywa ngahu!