Could Hydelan be a threat? [Spoilers]

[LineageRazor]

The tie-in to Nirvana is interesting; it would explain why Elidibus seemed to think that we'd be totally on board with the Asicans if only we "knew the truth". (Not, of course, that he's willing to, you know, share any details of this supposed "truth" with us, but hey, that might tie in to the whole enlightenment thing: you can't really grant enlightenment, but can sometimes help others discover it for themselves.)

However, it's also interesting that when Final Fantasy games DO dip into the "return to perfection" trope, it's typically the BAD GUYS who are all for it. Kinda makes me wonder if the writers have a beef with Buddhism. Or, perhaps, it's just that they want to show the baddies as being sympathetic, that their goals are ultimately good, but their methods (and the necessary price to achieve that goal) are not.

If we accept the Rejoining as an objectively good phenomenon, but one for which Hydaelyn has decided that the price is too high, on a macro scale it paints her as kind of a bleeding heart, unwilling to do what must be done just for the sake of a few inconsequential life forms.

Ascians: All right, Hydaelyn, quit your whining. You know we have to do this. It's the way things were supposed to be.
Hydaelyn: I don't wanna! It'll hurt all these poor creatures!
Ascians: There wouldn't even BE any creatures if you hadn't mucked everything up to begin with.
Hydaelyn: I don't care! They're here now, and they don't deserve to be killed.
Ascians: Ridiculous. Fine, we'll do it without your help.

Of course, as one of those inconsequential life forms myself, I tend to favor Hydaeyln's side of the argument.

[Miyha]

However, it's also interesting that when Final Fantasy games DO dip into the "return to perfection" trope, it's typically the BAD GUYS who are all for it. Kinda makes me wonder if the writers have a beef with Buddhism. Or, perhaps, it's just that they want to show the baddies as being sympathetic, that their goals are ultimately good, but their methods (and the necessary price to achieve that goal) are not.

Well... There ARE two opposing (not really "opposing", as they're actually combined in many, if not most, cases... but certainly very different) major religions in Japan. I've also noted several potential references to Shinto within this game: the concept of primals and their strength being based off of their worshipers being one major connection, not to mention the beast tribe coming in 4.0 that literally worships Kami and reveres one of the major Kami as their god (Susano). >< With an East Asian themed expansion coming, I'm actually pretty excited to see what else I can pick up on.

In Shinto, the concept of Nirvana doesn't really exist, and nature is seen as being beautiful and divine the way it is. What the Ascians are striving to do would, presumably, wipe out all life as we know it, destroying all creation in favor of this perfect "nothingness". Struggle and competition are part of nature, constant striving and such "mortal contrivances" are a part of the human experience. The concept of the Buddhist Nirvana implies that human imperfections are a bad thing, something to be transcended and overcome, something that is, essentially, miserable. Shinto doesn't necessarily think that: in fact, the major Kami themselves have many human characteristics (like many gods of many different pantheons) that probably wouldn't fly according to the concept of Nirvana, and it could be argued that many of these "imperfections" are seen as a good thing that shapes the spirit and makes it unique, and thus beautiful.

So it COULD be possible that maybe we are seeing references from opposing representations of two different prominent religious influences in Japan. That said, it might also help if we knew a bit more about life before Hydaelyn expelled Zodiark... Do we know much about it at all? Did it exist as we know it, in any way, shape or form? Do we know EXACTLY what will happen if the Rejoining were to take place? (I'm assuming not, since there is still plenty of time and plenty of mystery surrounding the Ascians and Zodiark in general.)