Is Buddhism Nihilistic?

“It doesn’t matter” solves a lot of problems, but not all of them

The more I’ve been reading about Buddhism lately, the more of a worried hunch I’ve developed about it’s relationship to nihilism. In the time of Nietzsche, Europeans didn’t have that much information about Buddhism. There weren’t a lot of accessible sources about it, and it was less developed and popularized compared to how it is now. He called it a “cult of nothing.”

At first glance, it might seem that way. Buddhism is characterized by “detachment” as a solution. When we have expectations, we open ourselves to disappointment when those expectations aren’t met. So it makes sense that, to eliminate disappointment and suffering, we should detach ourselves from expectations.

But it would be a crime to define Buddhism so narrowly. Nihilism is a philosophy of no values. Buddhism is one that might seem to use nihilism to affirm very few but powerful ones.

What Is Nihilism?

It’s a negation, and only a negation. From the dictionary, nihilism is:

“the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless.”

For the true nihilist, there is nothing real, nothing worth pursuing, nothing worth effort. The whole of life is a sick, absurd joke, perhaps, and if they identify as anything, they are a helpless victim.

In Contrast, Buddhism DOES Have Values

Nirvana, wisdom, and compassion — these are what Buddhist philosophy is about. Suffering and joy do exist, and it’s important to the Buddhist to move away from suffering and into joy.

You don’t do that by assuming everything is meaningless. In fact, you assume the opposite. Every moment is absolutely chalk full of meaning, if you become awake to it. Every thought is an opportunity to practice Right View and Right Intention. Every moment is an opportunity to practice the Right Effort of transforming yourself.

Buddhists aren’t trying to transform themselves into nothing. They are transforming themselves into enlightened beings, who see the world for what it is, and work to develop peace in themselves and others.

Buddhism only annihilates everything else.