James Cameron may have taken 15 years to translate his thoughts into the movie 'Avatar', but the movie's release has been well-timed. In the post-recession era when the market forces are slowly gearing up to create more demands that can justify more spending, which will lead to liquidity and wealth creation, there is need for a different kind of perspective towards life other than wealth creation. I watched this movie with my wife and daughter on Christmas, and was completely mesmerised at the learnings that could be drawn from the movie. I would like to share them with you all.
1. Select a person for his extraordinary potential; do not write him off only because he doesn’t have ordinary attributes.
2. Man’s quest for probing the space outside himself is governed by his ineptitude to manage the space that is provided to him, so that it is sustainable for all.
3. Man alone is mere mortal – it is only when he submits himself to become an effective channel of flow of cosmic energy does he enable himself to perform greater actions.
4. Sources of energy/power are meant to be preserved/ treated as sacred, and not to be abused, exploited, exhausted.
5. To lead them, become one of them in the true sense.
6. To lead you must first be willing to learn, follow, endure, improve and then overcome stiff competition at the top.
7. Unless you emotionally connect with the people whom you are trying to impact, you may go very wrong with the change you want to make – they may not actually need it.
8. It is in the strength of finding common purpose and communicating it effectively across divides, that you will gain strength enough to pursue it.
9. Once the common purpose is identified, and all the available resources have been garnered, do not waste any time thereafter – just go for it. Along the way, your bold actions will attract more support from unexpected quarters – suddenly you will find alongside, people whom you never thought would join you.
10. When planning any campaign, plan to outwit your adversary/competitor by combining expertise, teamwork, innovation and finding gaps in the adversary’s/competitor’s defenses.
11. The more mankind ventures to sustain itself, the more it impinges upon the space meant for others, the more the necessity to accommodate everyone’s needs; ultimately, the story remains the same – the fight between your Greed and their Need.
One more thought before I end this post. Greed is perhaps a necessary evil – it boosts you to venture further, deeper across new frontiers to seek new bounties that can be life sustaining and wealth producing. But in the bargain, Man is disturbing the delicate balance that is the essence of all creation. In the end, will it be worth the Greed?
6 comments:
way to go Navinder....
seems a bit cosmic
it is a lot, and in reality, we sometimes can not really observed the fundamental lesson from the event of life, coz either we are so absorbed with the cover or surface of the core or we are just not that sensitive enough... film is made to sent a message and so it is made in a way that people can grab it in more simple way while in reality it is not that simple.. it needs, a clarity of mind, a matured personality and willingness to see, hear and open one's heart, and the truth is sometimes not as sweet as we imagine... ;)
Have a nice day, and a Happy New year, all...
The film is well done and brings home many poignant points - but the above comments have contradictions all over and make grandiose assumptions that fringe on patronizing the readers - lest the other viewers didnt 'get it' ..
e.g. # 7)'change you want to make ' vs. 'they may not need it' - huh?
You mean, up until now you were assuming you can go ahead steam roll the change 'you want to make' without taking into consideration 'who it impacts, and how'?
From the olderst scriptures to the New Age literature, we have known to 'walk in another mans shoes' before you assume you know them - trying to change them comes way after - I am sure most of us are aware and respect such fundamental codes of ethics long before Avatar cast it in film..
#11) Mankind's Sustaining itself comment: true "sustainablility" comes from understanding the delicate balane of the needs of ALL inhabitants - look around at any viable "sustainability" eforts, and you will see it never "impinges on the needs of others" - what you are talking about, as you later reflect is "greedy consumerism" and NOT "sustaining himself" - there is a big difference between the two.
Lastly, the point that underscores the contradictory nature of the article - "Greed is a Neccessary evil" - huh?
"Greed", in any form, is a negative trait -and has historically or in currnt times, NEVER justified the end goals.
Mans aspirations to "GROW", "to venture further, deeper across new frontiers to seek new bounties that can be life sustaining and wealth producing" - are done with taking into consideration the impact on all else.
GROW needs to be understood sepaate and opposie of "GREED" - which this author justifies as a neccessary evil!
Avatar, as a movie and a message conveyed within, does NOT justify GREED, in any form. I find this a very deragotory comment on the film and the producers, and an insult on us readers, who it is prosumed cannot discern for ourselves the difference between greed and susainable growth.
I think you got most of it. I figure the greed part is somewhat subjective - greed to what objective is the question?
Looking forward to this film and glad to hear that it resonantes on so many important levels, Anonymous (above) seems a bit harsh, but I do agree with his observation that greed is a negative characteristic. It is not necessary at all, but is often excused as such. People who need greed to motivate them to action are not worth much. Self-interest is not the same thing as greed and I wonder if that is what you might be meaning. I could agree that awareness of a self-interest in whatever form is innate and a motivator. Pure altruism is rare (and debatable, too). Thnks for your thoughts!
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