On Morality: A Nietzschean and Buddhist Comparison - Essay Example

We can easily guess at the kinds of questions students and scholars might posit: How does Friedrich Nietzsche define Buddhism How does Nietzsche distinguish Buddhism from other world religions How does his definition of Buddhist values and practices demonstrate any enthusiasm he may harbor for the ancient religion, and how does said enthusiasm shape Friedrich Nietzsche's understanding of Buddhist morality overall-if at all Perhaps most importantly, what does Nietzsche-a Western philosopher-perceive about Buddhist morality that remains fundamentally different from his own daily ethic and philosophical sense of what morality should be for all humankind An analysis of these kinds of issues will help to explain the relevance of Buddhist morality when compared with and contrasted to Nietzschean morality.

Initially, nailing down Friedrich Nietzsche's definition of Buddhism as a religion as well as his understanding of Buddhist morality seems not only practical but necessary. Nietzsche expanded his limited knowledge of the religion of Buddhism based, for the most part, on a few translated works. "His restless mind had been stimulated [primarily] bytwo valuable studies of Brahmanic and Buddhist beliefs and practices written by a brilliant young Basel philologist, Jacob Wackernagel." (Cate 299) Armed with these two potent sources, Nietzsche takes an interpretive approach to Buddhistic traditions, rites, principles, and practices.

He eventually concludes that Buddhism is based on two simple yet crucial physiological facts: "first, an excessively acute sensitivityexpressed as a refined susceptibility to pain, and secondan over-spiritualization that has had the effect of promoting the 'impersonal' instincts at the expense of the personal ones." (Nietzsche (Ridley) 16) Nietzsche engages and dissects the nature of Buddhistic practices further still, deciphering what he esteems as meaning hidden within claims of eternal truth.

For example, the philosopher explains that the two physiological facts he's discovered represent emotional conditions and cues that give rise to a "depression" of sorts. A marvelously Nietzschean description of The Buddha results: "The Buddha took hygienic measures against [depression], including: living out in the open, the wandering life, moderation and a careful diet; caution as far as liquor is concerned; caution when it comes to all affects that create bile or raise the blood temperature.

" (Nietzsche (Ridley) 16-17, emphasis on hygienic added) Friedrich Nietzsche continues, approvingly noting The Buddha's exhortation to shun habits that induce worrying about either oneself or other people. In fact, Nietzsche strongly emphasizes The Buddha's insistence to focus on ideas and thoughts that produce either calm or amusement while also cultivating the habit of inventing and developing methods for phasing out all the other negative influences, regardless of their form or function.

"[The Buddha] sees goodness and kindness as healthy. Prayer is out of the question, as is asceticism; there is no categorical imperative, no compulsion in any form, not even within the monastic community (-which you can always