Comparison of Philosophies of Friedrich Nietzsche and the Dalai Lama

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Recommended: Relationship between science and religion

Science versus religion has always been a very controversial topic in this world and even more so in the United States. It seems that this topic in some way, shape, form, or fashion always finds its way into one's life through government, jobs, and most certainly in politics. When looking at the lives of two men who embody the two controversial ideals of science and religion one can look at the lives and views of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (views on compassion surrounding religion) and Friedrich Nietzsche (views on "Morality as Anti-Nature" surrounding science). Dalai Lama through his reading seems to establish the concept that compassion is a "guide for ethical behavior", while Nietzsche strives to develop the concept that "moral pronouncements by major religions are designed to stifle people's natural behaviors." .

His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth Dalai Lama of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. As stated in the text:

He was selected Dalai Lama, which means "Ocean of Wisdom", when he was a young child because he was assumed to be the reincarnation of the thirteenth Dalai Lama...In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Dalai Lama is considered a reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, sometimes known as Avalokiteshvara. A Bodhisattva is a Buddha, an enlightened one. (Jacobus 729)

The Dalai Lama was set apart from his peers at an early age, growing up in the teachings of the

Buddhist way, while knowing that eventually one day he would reign in this position and have this important power. Through the years the Dalai Lama has done many things in the way of improving country relations and advocating human rights to all people. The selection taken from Ethics for the New Millennium focuses on t...

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...ho compounded upon two great theories. Each holds fast to those theories and in essence, lives their lives according to those theories. Nietzsche's theory of living without whims and restrictions on the surface might seem ideal; however upon further observance his method is only a sure illustration for eventual chaos. Then on the other hand one views the concepts of the Dalai Lama. He views compassion and taking in the suffering of others as the total supreme of personal happiness. Yet, upon studying his concepts and principles even more so one might get the idea that giving of one completely to attain an unconditional love is basically an unrealistic principle in that it causes one to go mad mentally. However, one should try to find a balance between the two, as stated by Gerry Spence, "I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief."

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