Nietzsche and the Buddha

This book examines Nietzsches claim that he could be the "Buddha of the West." A close reading of his texts shows substantial similarities with the Buddhas teachings, suggesting a potential basis and a potentially promising future for a Western Buddhism that would be based on Nietzsches philosophy. The book first provides a brief comparative biography of Nietzsche and the Buddha and then a review of the Buddhas Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path and of what there is in Nietzsches writings that is his equivalent to those teachings. While the West often looks to neuroscience to validate the Buddhist teachings and practices, this book suggests it would be better to study Nietzsches thought to discover not only validation for Buddhist teachings but the very foundation of a "Buddhism" that is of the West, by the West, and for the West.