Nietszche and Zen

Existentialism Paper

Nietzsche and Zen

Nietzsche’s philosophy and Zen Buddhism hold many similar principle threads of thought. Specifically, these comparable principle threads refer to Nietzsche’s concepts of the Ubermensch (or Over-Man), meaninglessness, and “going beyond good and evil” with Zen notions of extinguishment of the ego, nothingness, and non-duality, respectively. Although realized through different languages, within different cultures, and through the eyes of different worldviews, these two philosophies speak of very congruous concepts and understandings. I will attempt to go beyond the limits and ambiguities of language in order to penetrate the deepest meanings of the terms aforementioned and to shed light upon the context in which they were conceived and spoken.

Self-mastery, strength, weakness, will to power – these are some of the terms Nietzsche frequently uses and all of which are spoken of principally in reference to the level of the mind. When using a word like "superiority" he is not necessarily referring to one person literally dominating a group of people. Likewise, when using the word inferior he is not referring to an inherent subservient quality that a person or persons possess. In other words, it is not a raw, physical power or superiority that Nietzsche speaks of, but rather of a constant internal expansion and embodiment of unhindered creativity. Unhindered, that is, by society, religion, tradition, etc.

It is evident by the Nazi party’s supposed adoption of aspects of Nietzsche’s philosophy that there was a tragic misunderstanding and misapplication of many of his concepts. The Nazi vision was one of a ruling Aryan race, which was in their eyes a biologically and genetically superior race. While holding their race as an inherently superior one they also believed in naturally weak and inferior races as well, as evidenced through their intolerance of Jews and other groups. Power in the Nazi’s interpretation meant control...