»The three lines«

I was pondering the three power lines in M3, leading to the main cpu-01.
It strange they are referred to as lines, not cables or wires.
I thought it could relate to the buddhist '*eight fold path' in some way but four isnt three (obviously) haha ;p.
The lines could represent lines from a religious text.
An obvioslu link is to trinity the 'pi' symbol (meaning 3.14, originally meaning 3) and the three forms of god (father, son, holy spirit). Also the three buddha bodies the Three Pure Ones of Taoism, dharmakaya-sambhogakaya-nirmanakaya of Buddhism they all refer to essence, appearance and function. Which are the main topics discussed in the matrix trilogy.
Anyone have ideas? Especally why they may have been refured to as lines?
You never know they could have just chose to say lines because they felt like it

Thanks in advance

May refer to Hinduism. There it is as 3 fold path to the source (main cpu?)
DnyanYoga: Path of Knowledge-> for those who begin as intellectuals
BhaktiYoga: Path of devotion and love-> for those begin with falling in love
KarmaYoga: Path of right action-> for those who begin with service
All the paths (lines) are supposed to meet in the end ( at the source)

Anyway it is an interesting observation. Do you know the exact context in which these lines are mentioned?

I didnt know that about hinduism, that seems to be a very beleivable link
It could also link with Sati and her family, they may represent hindu deitys, but dont know too much about hinduism, do you have any views on them?
*possible spoiler*
The lines are what neo and trinity follow on the way to the main city of the machines know as zero one. They fly there in Naiobi ship at the end of revolutions.
(The Logos: pilot cabin)
Trinity: Temperature's dropping. Here we go.
Neo: We're over the fields, aren't we?
Trinity: How do you know that?
Neo: I can feel them.
{The camera pans over the field briefly}
Neo: Over there. There's our path. Can you see it? Three lines.
Trinity: Power lines.
Neo: Follow them.

I don't know how this'll sound but, I've never heard them refered to as power cables or power wires. Power lines are just waht they are.

Yaldo, thanks for the dialogs about the power lines. Here are some of my views on Sati…

Sati and Rama
Sati literally means truth in Sanskrit and she is referred when her father talks about the connection love represents. She is the prime code in this matrix that needs to be preserved. He father, Ramakanta (the name has gotten distorted as Ramakanda), is a name for Vishnu's incarnation, a Hindu principle, who takes various incarnations to save and protect the good in this creation at various points of time. Here he is in-charge of recycling plant and plays his part in freeing humans from the pod thru the recycling plant. Also, it is a recurring theme in scriptures that the current avatar (savior) teams up with the previous ones to carry the mission forward. Neo’s reverence and eagerness to carry Rama’s luggage is significant in this context.

Sati and Shiva
Sati also appears in scriptures as beloved/wife of Shiva. In that story, she lives in the world overtaken by ego, greed and corruption. But she is love with Shiva. Sati is ridiculed for her love for Shiva as he is seen as a poor beggarly ascetic. Sati, overtaken by pain and ridicule at a ceremony, sacrifices herself in the ritual fire. Shiva, having learned of this is taken in by the grief and he unleashes his apocalyptic powers to finally destroy the corrupt order. He also sets a stage for a new fairer order. Sati is re-incarnated as Parvati in new order where she looks out for Shiva.

Sati and Trinity
I also feel Sati and Trinity has connection. Trinity when dies is shown with a setting sun for the first time. And Sati is shown with the rising sun for the first time. In M1 Trinity is looking out for Neo and M3 Sati wonders if she will meet Neo again. They both represent the love that looks out for the divinity that shows up as the One when the need arises. In M3 Neo acquires shades of Shiva, who is destroyer of the corruption in the current order. Shiva is always depicted with eyes closed to signify that he is blind to the external forms and sees inward to light (divinity) within in everything around him. Neo’s strange vision is like Shiva’s vision. Also Shiva is depicted with snakes rolling around him, a lot like machines rolling around Neo in a surprisingly non-threatening way. Neo, like Shiva (which literally means peace personified) becomes at peace with everything, even with snakelike beastly machines. And finally when the all love dies (Trinity) from this matrix and all the good (Sati, Oracle and Seraph) is overpowered/obscured by ego, greed and arrogance (Smith), he does whatever is necessary to put the matrix thru a new turn.

'fraid I haven't got any new ideas, but I just wanted to point out that it is the four noble truths and the noble EIGHTfold path.

I know this solves nothing, but at least it rules out buddhism fairly well. There is of course the holy trinity....

Thanks alot for that bEagle thats some interesting info. I think your view of sai and trinity being linked is very original, ill try to look for any others

Thanks for your feedback. I liked the shade on your Buddha avtar. It's cool.

Did you notice that Neo, while trapped in Mobil Ave after saying "Engage yourself" closes his eyes and sees the 3 power lines? It looks like he is flying over them and follows them on the surface. Once he get there in his vision, the train with Trinity comes.

Does it mean that the train has something to with the power lines? (connection between the machine world and matrix)

Strange thing is I don't understand where the powerlines came from. Thay are heading to the Machine City, but once they in the deserted landscape gets close to the fields, where the humans are grown, at the reach of the sight from the towers of matrix, the lines disappear into the ground.

Supposedly, they goes and are plugged somehow into the matrix but it is not shown where.

Btw. Yaldaboath, I like your picture. From distance it resembles the jin-jang sign (right eye is the light dot within dark field and left eye is the opposite)
Is it a buddha?

Something that came to my mind when I first saw it was the way of the cross. The path to the place of crucifixtion. 3 crosses to cavalry... 3 powerlines to the city. I don't know, but thats what i thought of when I first saw it.

3 crosses to cavalry?

yes Calvary was the name of the hill in which Jesus of Nazareth and 2 other criminals were crucified. Going back to the obviousness that neo represents a Christ figure the 3 powerlines that guide him to the place where he will die gives reference, at least to me, to the way of the cross.

Interesting....hadnt thought of that. allthough maybe the 3 lines represnt the trinity as well. maybe thats where her name came from....maybe not.

Theres soo many references to the number 3 in these movies that its hard to skim through them all to figure out what pieces go where

Thats true, but maybe we should to find the answer. or maybe it lies within us!

lol, oh please. Don't give us that search for the inner truth crap. But anyway back on topic. It might have a reference to Trinity but then again trinity might be a reference to it. Both could also then be a reference to something else. There are 2 numbers that show up in the bible many times, 3 and 7. The connection of the powerlines could be either one of the better ones for heaven ro God or anything. Or it could also be a reference to Lucifer and some of his references of 3.

yes it could be many things, thats for sure. its confusing isnt it!

confusing to the point of insanity. There is 3 of everything in all 3 movies. AH 3 MOVIES! another one! *cries*

Its ok here wanna cookie? it will make you feel better i promise!

3 - too many references to it (Neo also said "too many" while facing the bombs and sentinels)

I looked here greatdreams.com... to find out something about three. Here are some interesting excerpts:

The symbol of the triad or trinity has existed over immeasurable time and throughout the world. It can be understood as a key to the integrity and interdependence of all existence.

Hence the number three points us to what is real, essential, perfect, substantial, complete, and Divine. There is nothing real in man or of man. Everything "under the sun" and apart from God is "vanity." "Every man at his best estate is altogether vanity" (Psa 139:5,11, 62:9, 144:4; Eccl 1:2,4, 2:11,17,26, 3:19, 4:4, 11:8, 12:8; Rom 8:20).

Three is the number associated with the Godhead, for there are "three persons in one God." Three times the Seraphim cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy"--one for each of the three persons in the Trinity (Isa 6:3). The living creatures also in Revelation 4:8.

As we have in the number one the sovereignty of the one God; and in two the second person, the Son, the great Deliverer; so in "three" we have the third person, the Holy Spirit, marking and completing "the fulness of the Godhead." This word "fulness" is remarkable, occurring only three times, and in connection with the Three Persons of the Trinity:
Ephesians 3:19, "The fulness of God.
Ephesians 4:13, "The fulness of Christ."
Colossians 2:9, "The fulness of the Godhead."
The "fulness" was manifested visibly in Christ, and is communicated by the Holy Spirit, for it is a fulness of which we receive by His mighty power (John 1:16).

Three times is the blessing given in Numbers 6:23, 24:--
"The LORD bless thee and keep thee (the Father);
The LORD make His face shine upon thee; and be gracious unto thee (the Son);
The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (the Holy Spirit).

THE FIRST OCCURRENCE
of the number is in Genesis 1:13. "The third day" was the day on which the earth was caused to rise up out of the water, symbolical of that resurrection life which we have in Christ, and in which alone we can worship, or serve, or do any "good works."
Hence three is a number of RESURRECTION, for it was on the third day that Jesus rose again from the dead. This was Divine in operation, and Divine in its prophetic foreshowing in the person of Jonah (Matt 12:39,40; Luke 11:29; Jonah 1:17). It was the third day on which Jesus was "perfected" (Luke 13:32). It was at the third hour He was crucified; and it was for three hours (from the 6th to the 9th) that darkness shrouded the Divine Sufferer and Redeemer. The "loud voice" at the end of those twice three hours, when, "about the ninth hour," He cried, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me" (Matt 27:46), shows completely that nothing of nature, nothing of the light or intelligence of this world, could give help in that hour of darkness. Does not this show us our impotence in the matter? Does it not prove our incapacity to aid in delivering ourselves from our natural condition?
With the light at the ninth hour came the Divine declaration, "It is finished." So divinely finished, completed, and perfected, that now there is no such darkness for those who have died with Christ. Light, uninterrupted light, shines upon all who are risen with Him; uninterrupted sunshine--even "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." That three hours' darkness, therefore, testifies to our complete ruin, and our complete salvation, and shows that His people are "complete in Him."

THE THREE-FOLD NATURE OF TEMPTATION (1 John 2:16)
"The lust of the flesh."
"The lust of the eyes."
"The pride of life."

MAN'S THREE GREAT ENEMIES
are "the World, the Flesh, and the Devil":
1. The World is set over against the Father (1 John 2:15,16).
2. The Flesh is set over against the Spirit (Gal 5:17).
3. The Devil is set over against the son (the Living Word, Matthew 4:1, etc, and 1 John 3:8; and the Written Word, John 8:44).

THREE THINGS PREDICATED OF GOD
(in John's Gospel and Epistles)
"God is love" (1 John 4:8,16). We are therefore to "Walk in love" (Eph 5:2).
"God is spirit" (John 4:24, RV, margin). We are exhorted to "Walk in the spirit" (Gal 5:16).
"God is light" (1 John 1:5). We are to "Walk in the light" (Eph 5:.
_______________________________________________________

Hmmm, I don't know wheather searching for references like this is really helpfull ... power line is not really widely used symbol either ...

Three is a number of integrity and interdependence of existence - which may depict the true relation between humans and AIs.

Number of Godhead - Deus ex Machina.

Number of resurrection after which came the statement: "It is finished."

There are three great enemies of man (Neo): World is the matrix (the system) that is against Neo, especially when overtaken by Smith. Flesh is against him - he gets blind. And Smith may easily resemble devil.

So, in summary, number three leads to the God, who is symbolized by light.

I thought the place where Jesus was crucified was called Golgotha, not Calvary. In fact I'm pretty certain. Any explanation?

Three IS used a lot isn't it? Always three agents. Three main characters (Neo, Trinity and Morpheus). Three 'God-like' characters (Architect, Oracle and Deus Ex Machina). Three types of people fighting for different things (Humans, Exiled Programs, Programs from the source). Three 'sons' of Merovingian (according to a recent theory) (Cain, Abel, Seraph).

So we have three people for the human side. Three main programs from the source. So who are three main people on the exiled programs side? Well we only had Persephone and Merovingian until... lo and behold, the Trainman gets added to the list! It must be said though that there is less obviously a trinity on that level.

What about Rama-Kandra, Kamala and Sati? Isn't it a trinity of a bit human-like programms?

I would put Seraph into the exiled program trinity - besides Merovingian and Persephone, because the characters of Cain, Abel and Trainman seems to be present only a little in the movies.

Also some trinity within Zion should be sought - there is Hamann, Lock ... and maybe the child?

Having there five trinities you can make a scale between machines and humans, regarding their role:
Most machine-like are the God-like characters (Oracle, Architect, Deus Ex Machina), then are the matrix-programms (Merv, Persefone, Seraph), in between machines and humans is the trinity of human-like programms (Rama-Kandra, Kamala, Sati), next to then is the trinity of people fighting in matrix(Neo, Trin, Morpheus) and then there is the trinity of people in Zion, on the most human side of this equilibrium (Hamann, Lock, Kid).

However, where to put Smith? Instead of Seraph, besides Merv and Persefone? Or to extend the 5 trinities to 7, which more biblical number? Leave Smith besides Merv and Persef. and keep the trinity of Cain, Abel and Separaph as the side-programms and find another trinity in Zion, for example Link, Zee and the Child and the second Zionite trinity would contain Hamann. Lock and Niobe.

Hmmm, the Zionite trinities are to artificial ... and what about the agent of the system? The other Zionite Ships' crew?

This is characters and some religious parallels-

Birth, Life, Death
Matrix, Reloaded, Revolutions
Morpheus, Neo, Trinity
Architect, Oracle, Merovingian
Architect, Oracle, Neo
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Bhahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Rama-kandra, Kamala, Sati
Smith, Jones, Brown
Johnson, Thompson, Jackson
Humans, Machines, Programs
Matrix, Zero-One, Zion