>>10679
So go the stories. He became such a wonderful person that even just being within several miles of him would start having better days, improved moods... light and happiness and good deeds -- they spread.
No writing system at the time, so the stories say, he ascended with bright visible aura.
Was so magnificent, that they started their own little group where they would repeat his words, find power and enlightenment through them, and be sure they are carried to the next generation.
The writing form of the area, sanskrit, was developed after a few hundred years of this specifically to record what the monks of the time for many generations carried with them verbally.
Sure sounds like a pretty important thing, and a whole lot of people for a whole lot of time found a lot of power and purpose through it, working themselves through "the game" as you call it, and helping other players to do the same.

I've done a fair bit of study on religions... Christianity and Buddhism are a lot more alike than most want to admit.
Buddha said to not believe what he said because he was the buddha, but believe it because you've proven it to yourself.
Or psalms 8:35, "For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the LORD."
If finding and understanding God is ascension... well, it's the same instructions, just a different format, right?
Think for yourself.