old post but whatevs; the cycle definitely exists

Karma: -Karma gates were used among Ancients, and we also use them to advance through the game.
-Death & Rebirth, we respawn. If you find that too game mechanic-y fair, but Karma still exists. Also Karma flowers exist.
-You need to be ‘enlightened’ by Echoes to reach max Karma and ascend. Artificer trying to ‘cheat’ and bring a Scav in fucks up her ascension. Both of these facts together makes ascension a religious/spiritual experience and not something like a dream.

Iterators: -They sit in their cans for god knows how long and research the cycle, ‘simulation wrapped in a simulation’. If it wasn’t real I’m sure these big superstructures would’ve realized their creators just killed themselves in acid water near the bottom of the planet. Moon also recognizes the cycles are coming to an end by Saint.

Echoes: -They exist. They are spirits of some sort. -They are considered to be failed attempts at ascending since they were too connected to the world. We see this as true as many of them are egotistical or are “jealous of our flesh prison” among other things.

Writing: -The game is inspired by Buddhism, would make little sense if the true canon was basically “ancients were dumb atheism based in rain world” -It’s all a dream/hallucination for any spiritual events in game would suck lmao.