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Remember in the Season Finale from I think season 2, when Aang remembers what the Guru says just as he sees Katara being attacked by all their enemies and she seems to be in trouble. Normally Aang might rush to her rescue, but instead he says "sorry Katara" and encases himself in a protective shield while he meditates to go into the Avatar state. If Aang had rushed to her side then his passion and feelings would have been in control of him and he wouldn't have been able to be in the proper state of mind to control the avatar state, even if he had managed to go into it. He would have just been the destructive avatar state that we have seen in the past which is what he was afraid of. He was worried he might hurt his friends even as he defeated their enemies. Seems like the creators of Avatar are drawing heavily from Buddhist tradition with this because in order for Aang to enter into the avatar state by his own will (and control it) he has to "let go" of his powerful emotional attachments, perhaps even all emotional attachments, thereby making him immune to the powerful influences of things such as hatred, greed, and delusion. Those 3 are considered the main obstacles in many forms of Buddhist theory which prevent someone from becoming enlightened. However, any emotion can lead someone down the path towards one of those 3, including love.

Remember in the Season Finale from I think season 2, when Aang remembers what the Guru says just as he sees Katara being attacked by all their enemies and she seems to be in trouble. Normally Aang might rush to her rescue, but instead he says "sorry Katara" and encases himself in a protective shield while he meditates to go into the Avatar state. If Aang had rushed to her side then his passion and feelings would have been in control of him and he wouldn't have been able to be in the proper state of mind to control the avatar state, even if he had managed to go into it. He would have just been the destructive avatar state that we have seen in the past which is what he was afraid of. He was worried he might hurt his friends even as he defeated their enemies. Seems like the creators of Avatar are drawing heavily from Buddhist tradition with this because in order for Aang to enter into the avatar state by his own will (and control it) he has to "let go" of his powerful emotional attachments, perhaps even all emotional attachments, thereby making him immune to the powerful influences of things such as hatred, greed, and delusion. Those 3 are considered the main obstacles in many forms of Buddhist theory which prevent someone from becoming enlightened. However, any emotion can lead someone down the path towards one of those 3, including love.

Remember in the Season Finale from I think season 2, when Aang remembers what the Guru says just as he sees Katara being attacked by all their enemies and she seems to be in trouble. Normally Aang might rush to her rescue, but instead he says "sorry Katara" and encases himself in a protective shield while he meditates to go into the Avatar state. If Aang had rushed to her side then his passion and feelings would have been in control of him and he wouldn't have been able to be in the proper state of mind to control the avatar state, even if he had managed to go into it. He would have just been the destructive avatar state that we have seen in the past which is what he was afraid of. He was worried he might hurt his friends even as he defeated their enemies. Seems like the creators of Avatar are drawing heavily from Buddhist tradition with this because in order for Aang to enter into the avatar state by his own will (and control it) he has to "let go" of his powerful emotional attachments, perhaps even all emotional attachments, thereby making him immune to the powerful influences of things such as hatred, greed, and delusion. Those 3 are considered the main obstacles in many forms of Buddhist theory which prevent someone from becoming enlightened. However, any emotion can lead someone down the path towards one of those 3, including love.

I think when he says "emotions in check" he doesn't mean be like Mai, he means "controlling his emotions" and only allowing to show emotions that he feels are ok

basically the classic "count to 10 and breath hard before doing something you will regret when you are mad"

I think when he says "emotions in check" he doesn't mean be like Mai, he means "controlling his emotions" and only allowing to show emotions that he feels are ok basically the classic "count to 10 and breath hard before doing something you will regret when you are mad"

I think when he says "emotions in check" he doesn't mean be like Mai, he means "controlling his emotions" and only allowing to show emotions that he feels are ok basically the classic "count to 10 and breath hard before doing something you will regret when you are mad"

But Roku had different training than Aang did, with the Fire Sages. I doubt they used the exact same chakra method. It could also be assumed that Roku had better control due to his maturity. I mean...we've never seen Roku using the Avatar state as a child.

But Roku had different training than Aang did, with the Fire Sages. I doubt they used the exact same chakra method. It could also be assumed that Roku had better control due to his maturity. I mean...we've never seen Roku using the Avatar state as a child.