B V FN

 A

Point-wise gist

1. Nietzsche’s interpretation of Buddhism

   • Nietzsche understood nirvāṇa as “extinction” or nothingness.

   • He therefore interpreted Buddhism as a kind of nihilistic rejection of life.

   • He thought the Buddhist seeks to escape existence, desire, action, and suffering.

2. But this interpretation is arguably mistaken

   • Buddhism does not simply teach “eliminate suffering.”

   • The Buddha’s approach is to go to the roots of suffering—especially craving, clinging, ignorance, hatred, and delusion.

   • The aim is not necessarily “non-existence,” but the cessation of the conditions that produce suffering.

3. What actually “ceases” in nirvāṇa?

   • Nietzsche interpreted it as the cessation of all action/desire.

   • Buddhist teaching is more precise: what ceases is ignorance-conditioned willing and intending that produces karmic consequences and keeps one trapped in saṃsāra.

   • It does not mean that an enlightened person literally performs no actions.

4. Kamma and intention

   • In Buddhism, kamma is closely connected with intention (cetanā).

   • Actions rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion are unwholesome (akusala).

   • Actions rooted in non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion are wholesome (kusala).

5. The key correction to Nietzsche

   • Buddhism doesn't simply say:
     “Stop acting → become nothing.”

   • Rather:
     “Understand and uproot craving, ignorance and clinging → actions no longer generate the karmic conditions that perpetuate suffering.”

6. Why Nietzsche called Buddhism nihilistic

   • Nietzsche saw the rejection of craving and attachment as a rejection of life itself.

   • Thus he described nirvāṇa as a “longing for nothingness” or turning away from life.

7. The deeper disagreement

   Nietzsche:

   Life involves suffering → affirm life and overcome yourself.

   Buddhism:

   Suffering arises through specific causes → understand and eliminate those causes.

8. Important distinction

   • Nietzsche's “eternal recurrence” is radically life-affirming: can you say yes to your life exactly as it is?

   • Buddhist nirvāṇa is about liberation from the craving/clinging/ignorance that drives saṃsāra.

   • So Nietzsche and Buddhism may both emphasize overcoming, but they disagree profoundly about what should be overcome.

One-line takeaway

Nietzsche saw Buddhism as “escape from life into nothingness,” whereas Buddhist doctrine is better understood as “ending the ignorance, craving and clinging that generate suffering and continued bondage.”