The Tulkun of Pandora: Biblical Parallels and Immortality

The Tulkun Way: Sentience and Ethical Intelligence

Tulkun are highly intelligent creatures with their own unique philosophy. Ian Garvin mentions they are likely smarter than humans, as well as being more "spiritual" and "emotional". However, this intelligence can only be expressed in its own unique way, similar to whales.^[2] This intelligence has allowed the tulkun to form a culture among themselves, including the establishment of the Tulkun Way, an ancient pacifist doctrine stemming from their early history that forbids all forms of killing.

Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.

However the Tulkun Way was no always this way. During the time of the The First Songs, the earliest recollections of Na'vi history, the tulkuns were violent creatures who fought amongst themselves for territory and revenge. At some point, the tulkuns gave up this way of life and adopted a pacifistic nature wherein all forms of killing are strictly outlawed, even if the killing is justified, such as in the case of self-defense. Thusly, any tulkuns who go against the Tulkun Way and kill are outcast from the tulkuns. Due to the kinship between the tulkuns and the oceanic Metkayina clan, any outcast tulkuns are similarly rejected and shunned by the Metkayina.

Tulkun are slightly transcendent,^[3] being sentient and highly cultured, with their own rich family histories, mathematics, poetry, and sophisticated music.^[4] [5] They have their own language, individual names and can communicate with the Na'vi. While the Na'vi use sign language to communicate with the tulkun, the tulkun respond with vocal sounds and eye contact. They are very close to all of marine reef clans;^[5] for instance, the Metkayina clan see them as siblings.^[6] Each Metkayina member engages a lifelong bond with a tulkun early in their life, whom they call their spirit brother/sister. They celebrate each others' families, the birth of a new child and mourn the loss of a family member. Tulkun can access memories stored within Eywa and are able to share their experiences with the Na'vi.^[4]

Adult tulkun are observed to have tattoos on their snouts and bellies similar in style to that of the reef clans.

Job 12:7-10 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?"

Sentient refers to the capacity to perceive or feel things through the senses. A sentient being is one that is capable of experiencing sensations such as pain, pleasure, or emotions, and is aware of its surroundings to some degree.

For example:

• Humans are sentient because they can think, feel, and consciously react to their environment.
• Animals like dogs or dolphins are also considered sentient due to their ability to experience emotions and respond to stimuli.

The term is often used in discussions about intelligence, ethics, and the treatment of living beings.

You may wonder where I'm going with this, but stay with me, and it will become clear. Sentient AI refers to artificial intelligence capable of subjective experiences, self-awareness, and emotional depth, resembling human thought and feeling. While current AI systems like Siri and ChatGPT do not possess true sentience, their advanced capabilities hint at the potential for more emotionally intelligent and creative systems in the future. However, such advancements also raise ethical concerns, including privacy risks, biases, job displacement, and loss of control."

The Tulkun of Pandora: Biblical Parallels and Immortality

The tulkun is presumably the largest fauna on Pandora, being up to 300 feet (91.4 meters) long when fully grown, 3x bigger than even the largest Blue Whale. They also inhabit near-shore waters despite their size and can breach out of the water. They have dark grey/blue skin with areas of white coloration on their underbellies and colorful, stripe-like markings across their body. Characteristic of other Pandoran life forms, tulkun have four eyes, two on each side of the head, that are orange in color, and the shapes of irises are different between larger and smaller eyes; the irises on smaller eyes resemble that of Terran goats. They have six flippers, although the last two have merged to become part of its tail, similar to Terran seals. They have six blowholes on their backs and highly durable armor plating across their body.^[5]

When comparing the tulkun to the creatures in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 1), both share symbolic and otherworldly characteristics:

1. Multiple Eyes: The tulkun are described as having four eyes, two on each side of the head, with different iris shapes between the larger and smaller eyes. This concept of multiple eyes can be loosely compared to the creatures in Ezekiel's vision, which had four faces and wings, and eyes all around them. In Ezekiel 1:18, it says, "As for their rims, they were so high that they were dreadful, and their rims were full of eyes round about the four of them." Both the tulkun and the beings in Ezekiel's vision have an emphasis on eyes, symbolizing a heightened awareness or perception.

2. Six Limbs/Flippers: The tulkun have six flippers, two of which are merged into their tail, similar to the seals of Earth. This feature could be compared to the "wheels" mentioned in Ezekiel 1:15-21, which are described as "a wheel within a wheel," capable of moving in any direction. This conveys a sense of complex, multi-dimensional movement and adaptability, much like the tulkun’s physical design, which may allow them to move through water in a unique and efficient way.

3. Armor Plating: The tulkun are described as having highly durable armor plating across their bodies. This feature can be compared to the "gleaming metal" and "fire" described in Ezekiel 1:4-7, where the creatures are said to have a glowing, radiant appearance, and their bodies are covered in a luminous, otherworldly substance. It can also be likened to the "armor of God" described in Ephesians 6, which emphasizes spiritual protection and strength, symbolizing resilience and divine safeguarding.

4. Six Blowholes: The tulkun’s six blowholes on their backs add a distinct feature to their biology, allowing them to breathe in a specialized manner. While Ezekiel's vision does not describe creatures with blowholes, the concept of multiple "portals" or openings can be metaphorically linked to Ezekiel 1:4-7, where the creatures have wings that move and open in a way that suggests multiple pathways or avenues for interaction with the divine.

Both the tulkun and the creatures in Ezekiel’s vision share characteristics that emphasize otherworldliness, complexity, and a connection to divine or transcendent realms. They are described in a way that evokes a sense of awe, mystery, and supernatural intelligence.

The tulkun can also reach fast speeds at 25mph, which is around the speed of the fastest human athletes. Their lifespans are long but can vary greatly from 150 to 250 years. They are also sexually dimorphic with the males typically being 8-10 meters larger and having bigger, more colorful crests than the females.^[1]