Nietzsche repeatedly refers to Buddhism as a decadent and nihilistic religion. This seems to be a textbook case of what Nietzsche seeks to remedy in human thought. It devalues ​​the world as illusory and merely apparent, looking instead to an underlying reality for value and meaning. His stated goals appear to be negative and evasive, Nietzsche sometimes appears to praise aspects of Buddhist teaching – and some of his own core ideas resemble Buddhist doctrine. What exactly is Nietzsche's assessment of Buddhism? Is this simply absolute nihilism, or is there positive value to be found in Buddhism? There is also good reason to believe that Nietzsche's knowledge of Buddhism was inaccurate and incomplete, if only because of its historical location in 19th-century Europe. Given today's best Western understanding of Buddhism, would Nietzsche still characterize Buddhism as denialist and nihilistic? Nietzsche most often approaches Buddhism as a rhetorical foil for Christianity, rather than analyzing it directly. Nietzsche exaggerates every aspect of Buddhism that he approves of in his work. rhetorical strategy. Buddhism is not moral, it is hygienic, prescribing a remedy for the horror of the world rather than hiding it in dishonest grammar. In his greatest praise of Buddhism, Nietzsche admits that he abandoned slave morality – and the self-deception that goes with it. Nietzsche describes Buddhism as being clouded by morality. Perhaps specifically defining something as beyond good and evil keeps it trapped in the paradigm of defining what is valuable by what is not valuable. But Nietzsche only speaks favorably of Buddhism in comparison: when he mentions Buddhism apart from Christianity, it is all described as nihilism and desire. for nothingness. An Indian Nietzsche could easily have given Buddhism pride of place in the hierarchy of dangerous and life-depriving institutions to be discredited. Buddhism has perfected nihilism, but it is not a perfection to be desired. But even though Nietzsche accuses Buddhism of decadence and nihilism in no uncertain terms throughout his work, he still appreciates its honesty: “Buddhism is the only positivist religion in history; even in his epistemology a strict phenomenalism. In his time, Buddhism has become passive and complacent: feelings of dissatisfaction are simply accepted without struggle. Buddhism is fragile, withdrawn from the world and resigned to weakness and weariness. He's not looking for excuses anymore, he just wants relief. According to Nietzsche, Buddhism is degenerate and lifeless. Buddhism certainly says nothing, with its delicate constitution and its perpetual health concerns..