real-life-dipper-pines:masterarrowhead-deactivated2016:Escape from the Spirit World: Avatar Yangchen
real-life-dipper-pines:masterarrowhead-deactivated2016:Escape from the Spirit World: Avatar Yangchen (x)#so many people still do not get this#the avatar is SUPPOSED to have attachments; the avatar MUST love others#and people talk about how aang ~never makes sacrifices~ but he loses SO MUCH#he sacrifices SO MUCH#he can never completely follow the spiritual teachings and guidance of his people. he cannot attain enlightenment#and he gains so much but he still loses that aspect of his culture and he’s THE LAST PERSON IN HIS CULTURE FOR SO LONG#and the show does talk about this. aang gives up power and he gives up total spiritual harmony#he chooses to love katara. he chooses to go to his friends and protect them.#zuko and aang’s storylines are deliberately designed as foils#zuko’s emotional quest is to find himself. aang’s emotional quest is to accept himself#zuko gives up physical trappings and physical power to gain spiritual strength and peace#while aang gives up spiritual power and enlightenment to gain the strength of attachments to other people#a sacrifice is still a sacrifice even if you gain other things#SORRY THAT IS A WEIRD TANGENT ANYWAY OK -- source link
#atla