Had heard there were awesome dragons in the movie and boy, were they the coolest. Without them the battle between the native N’avi and the mean old imperialist, materalistic “civilized” people would have been lost!

Reminded me of how the early Americans treated the American Indians and the current treatment of Tibetans by the Chinese.

Also, the spiritual beliefs of the N’avi somewhat echoed some of the tenets in Taoism and Buddhism.

• Taoism’s central principle is that all life, all manifestation, is part of an inseparable whole, an interconnected organic unity which arises from a deep, mysterious, and essentially unexplainable source which is the Tao itself.
• Buddhist teacher Dharma Daishi shared Buddhism through incredibly rigorous physical lessons that taught people the necessary discipline required for the true Hindu meditative journey to Moksha, or release from earthly bondage, otherwise known as Nirvana.
  Buddhism also believes the a self is not subject to birth and death.

What a great reminder to us all that we are all part of the same energy (dragons and people alike!) and presented in such an entertaining way!

And I really loved the “I see you” used by the N’avi, very much like the “Namaste” said after a yoga class! (Namaste roughly translates to “I bow to you” or more poetically “The light within me honors the light within you” or “I bow to the divine in you.”

But the coolest thing of all is still how the big dragon saved the day!

What was your favorite part of this movie?

Today in America, many of us practice yoga and meditation for stress management. (In fact, most fitness centers now carry yoga classes.) Martial arts and Tai Chi have also become popular activities for many.

In the area of alternative medicine, more and more of us are turning to Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda and Oriental therapies for health and well-being, and most people have heard of Deepak Chopra, the “poet-prophet of alternative medicine.” (This dragon turns to acupuncture when its scales get too scaly or its flames start to sputter, especially since many health insurance companies now cover acupuncture!)

In the area of food (one of this dragon’s favorite topics), almost every city in America has Chinese takeout and most of us are experts in using chopsticks. (I confess that I still have problems with burning up chopsticks when I exhale when eating.) Many of us love Asian tea and dim sum, regularly eat rice, and speak sushi fluently.

For entertainment, many of us grew up watching Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Ninja Turtles! I for one especially loved the Chinese movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. (Go dragons! In 2000, this was highest-grossing foreign-language film in American history.) Toyotas, Hondas, and Nissans, and Sony, Panasonic, and tons of other Asian products are abundant on freeways and in most American households. (Flying with your own wings is still the best way to get around! Low cost, fast, fueled by dim sum and sushi!)

Today, we check feng shui when buying and decorating our homes and some of us even consult Chinese astrology before selecting a date to get married. (I always make sure I’m not sleeping in the coffin position, in whatever cave I inhabit!) I could go on and on about how Asian cultures have merged into daily American life but that might even surpass my lifespan in time! Of course, my favorite of all Asian culture co-mingling is how much us dragons are loved today! We’re revered and celebrated in martial arts, festivals, and even on people’s skins!

So… what’s your favorite Asian culture co-mingling? Please share it here!