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The meaning of “I see you” in Avatar

with 20 comments

When the Na’vi meet, they greet each other with, “I see you”. The phrase is more than a simple greeting though. “I see you” is an acknowledgement.

Think about it. Why tell someone you see them? Isn’t it obvious that you see them? Obvious unless you are implying something more than the obvious when you say “you”.

In India, the common greeting Namaskar or Namaste is no simple Hello. When one says Namaskar to someone, what it means is that he/she acknowledges the spark of the divine that is present inside them. Hinduism believes that God is an all-pervading force that envelopes all beings and things.

A great metaphor for this concept is The Force from the Star Wars movies. It is an invisible field of living energy that spreads across the galaxy and connects every creature in it to every other. In Avatar, the natives of planet Pandora realise this connectedness of all things too. Only, they call it Eywa instead of The Force.

What this acknowledgement means is simply empathy. It means that you acknowledge the other as one like yourself. It means that the ‘I’ and the ‘You’ are the same – parts of a bigger whole. Empathy and compassion are at the root of all great religions of the world.

What this awareness does is that it makes the individual recognise his place in the world. It makes him humble (like Yoda from Star Wars) and it makes him care for the world around him (like the Na’vi in Avatar).

Update: Gautam Ghosh points out on Twitter that the Zulu greeting Sawubona points in the same direction.

Written by Vijayendra Mohanty

December 23rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Posted in Top Posts, movies

Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

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20 Responses to 'The meaning of “I see you” in Avatar'

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  1. Good observation dude….. :)

    Krishna

    23 Dec 09 at 6:10 pm

  2. Namaste. Glad to know I’m not the only Vaisnava who has noticed the Vedic references in this great theater experience, Avatar.
    Avatar itself is a Sanskrit word, the ancient language in which the Vedas were written.
    Avatar is one of the most beautiful and transcendental movies ever made . . . highly recommended and very important.

    Almir

    25 Dec 09 at 1:55 am

  3. this greeting was stolen from a fantasy book as were the rootlets coming from the tree which came from a terry brooks novel. Much was stolen from other authors in this movie.

    Vijayendra Mohanty Reply:
    December 28th, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    The same concepts are present in a thousand other novels and movies. It is illogical to assume that every single one of them stole it from the one before it.

    What you say may be true, but I won’t use the word ’stolen’ for it. These motifs constitute a universal language that many others have spoken before. Avatar is simply the latest in a long series of stories to have spoken that same old truth.

    kevin

    26 Dec 09 at 12:48 am

  4. What abt when Na’vi and Jake say it to each other? It seems to have some other meaning then I get your point.

    Vijayendra Mohanty Reply:
    December 28th, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    The meaning I quoted is only one. I don’t deny that there may be others too.

    Having said that, why should it be any different when a Na’vi says it to Jake. Jake is as much part of nature as they are. So are the humans and so is every thing in the universe.

    mb89

    26 Dec 09 at 12:16 pm

  5. Avatar is indeed a powerful movie.

    When Jake told Eywa that the people who are coming have killed their mother, chills went up my spine. Truly imagine what it would feel like if someone told you that the people visiting your home had killed their mother!

    Some see Vedic influences, others see Native American, I see African. Regardless of your point of reference, this movie clearly acknowledges the indigenous roots of many cultures and tells the truth about corporate greed, ignorant ethno-centric superiority and a severe lack of respect for nature.

    My new and only life resolution for the remainder of my time on this magnificent plant Earth is to truly SEE my fellow brothers and sisters of ALL ethnicities.

    Peace n’ Love!
    Ms. November

    Vijayendra Mohanty Reply:
    January 1st, 2010 at 11:51 am

    Exactly. Avatar refers to the roots of all these traditions. It is about understanding the other and putting yourself in his shoes. That compassion is at the root of all these cultures. No wonder people find commonalities.

    Ms November

    31 Dec 09 at 11:13 pm

  6. I thought it meant I love you in the start. This is a good interpretation Vimoh. Very well written.

    I see you.

    Karthick

    1 Jan 10 at 6:04 am

  7. can any one remember the word that was used in the move for ” I see you”. what was the Na’Vi word

    roger

    7 Jan 10 at 11:22 pm

  8. Satya vachan
    Vimoh

    Gaurav M

    19 Jan 10 at 5:14 pm

  9. [...] Monday, 1 February 2010 The Irony of Avatar Posted by Elizabeth under Culture Leave a Comment  “I see you.” [...]

    The Irony of Avatar « Muddy Boots

    2 Feb 10 at 7:56 am

  10. When I heard this expression in the movie I personally took it to mean I connect with you. I feel what you feel. I understand you have a purpose in this world. I think it goes even deeper when I see you was used as an expression of love. Once two people love each other a connection is formed. Even if that love doesnt last the memory will always be there. They will always be part of each other and the memory is implanted. Hense the words I see you apply. Just my thoughts on this

    patty

    12 Feb 10 at 10:50 pm

  11. Hey cool! I’m glad someone else noticed this.

    Blacklight

    13 Feb 10 at 12:24 am

  12. it was a coincidence to come across your blog…i had been grappling with this questions eversince i saw the movie.
    thanks to you as now my doubts have been clarified satisfactorily.

    divya gupta

    21 Feb 10 at 12:28 am

  13. That phrase and the partial explaination of it stood out in the movie for me. I felt I see you I believed “I saw them” when it was spoken and that the writer “saw us all”.(Where ever he got his inspiration. The root of the movie the the several references to roots and indiginious people, abuses by corporations, exploitations, slavery and murder for profit, it all reached way down and grabbed something instinctively in me. I was sad through most of the movie, while still enlightened and exhillirated especially by the intensity and the love flowing between family and friends, animals and nature and the Na’vi. Beautiful, deep, spiritual, expressions and impressions of what the good in mankind hungers for and reminders of what we used to hate.

    Liz

    22 Feb 10 at 7:45 pm

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