Two Opposing Paths to Mastery
Most people assume philosophy offers one clear path to truth—but what happens when two of the most profound schools of thought completely contradict each other?
On one side, we have Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher of strength, ambition, and self-overcoming. He argued that the defining characteristic of humanity was the will to power—the ability to struggle, push forward, and impose one’s will on the world. For Nietzsche, passivity was a disease, and the greatest thing a person could do was to rise above their circumstances and become stronger than before.
On the other, we have Zen Buddhism, a school of thought that teaches letting go, surrendering to the flow of reality, and dissolving the ego. Zen suggests that struggle itself is an illusion, and the only way to “win” in life is to stop playing the game altogether. The Zen master doesn’t conquer his surroundings—he becomes one with them, abandoning the idea of resistance altogether.
So, which is right? Should you relentlessly push forward like Nietzsche, carving out your destiny with sheer willpower? Or should you embrace Zen’s path, relinquishing control and allowing the universe to unfold as it will?
The answer, as always, is more complex than it seems. To understand why, we need to dive deep into the core of each philosophy, examining not just their surface-level teachings, but their underlying metaphysical assumptions and practical implications.
Nietzsche’s Will to Power: Strength Through Struggle
If there’s a single phrase that defines Nietzsche’s philosophy, it’s this:
“To live is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering.”
Nietzsche rejected traditional morality, arguing that most people are weak, complacent, and afraid of life’s difficulties. Instead of facing hardship head-on, they create comforting beliefs that keep them passive. Christianity, he argued, was a philosophy of slave morality—a system designed to keep people obedient rather than strong.
At its core, Nietzschean thought is about self-overcoming—about rejecting stagnation, comfort, and conformity in favor of relentless growth.
The Will to Power: Becoming More Than You Are
For Nietzsche, the ultimate goal of life wasn’t happiness—it was power. But power in the Nietzschean sense is not about domination over others; rather, it is about the capacity to shape oneself and the world through force of will.
This is where his concept of the Übermensch (Overman) comes in. The Übermensch is not a tyrant, nor a conqueror in the traditional sense. Instead, he is a person who has completely transcended societal expectations, creating his own values, his own morality, and his own meaning in life.
The Übermensch stands in direct contrast to the Last Man, Nietzsche’s representation of modern mediocrity—apathetic, risk-averse, addicted to comfort, and lacking any higher aspirations.
Nietzsche argued that modern society breeds Last Men, conditioning people to fear discomfort, to seek pleasure over purpose, and to accept pre-made belief systems rather than forge their own. The Last Man is weak, fragile, and dependent—the Übermensch is strong, self-reliant, and indomitable.
Nietzsche’s Hierarchy of Humanity
- The Last Man – Seeks pleasure, avoids struggle, follows the herd.
- The Camel – Carries the weight of old values, traditions, and expectations, but has not yet rebelled.
- The Lion – Begins to challenge conventional morality, rejecting imposed beliefs.
- The Übermensch – Transcends all systems, creating new values from a place of power.
The path of the Übermensch is one of constant struggle. Nietzsche believed that pain, hardship, and resistance were not obstacles, but necessary components of greatness.
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
This is the warrior’s mindset—the belief that self-overcoming is the highest virtue.
But then we have Zen—a philosophy that takes the opposite approach.
Zen Buddhism: The Power of Surrender
If Nietzsche tells you to fight, Zen tells you to let go.
Zen Buddhism is about dissolving the self, not asserting it. Instead of seeing struggle as a necessary battle, Zen sees it as an illusion—something created by the mind.
“Flow with whatever may happen, and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.” —Zhuangzi
In Zen, there is no self to improve, no goal to achieve, no enemy to defeat. Struggle only exists if you resist the natural flow of life. Instead of forcing your will upon the world, Zen says to align yourself with it.
The Core of Zen: Embracing Nothingness
At the heart of Zen is the idea of emptiness (shunyata)—the recognition that everything is impermanent, interconnected, and ultimately without an independent self.
Unlike Nietzsche, who saw suffering as fuel for self-transformation, Zen teaches that suffering only exists when you resist what is.
“The obstacle is not the problem. The problem is your insistence that things be different than they are.”
This is why Zen monks practice Zazen (seated meditation)—to train themselves to observe thoughts and emotions without attachment.
Lessons from Zen:
- Stop trying to control everything. Accept reality as it is.
- Your ego is not your ally—it’s your biggest limitation.
- Surrender isn’t weakness—it’s alignment with reality.
Zen is about presence. No past, no future—just this moment, fully experienced. When you stop fighting, you stop suffering.
The Tension Between Nietzsche and Zen: Who’s Right?
At first glance, these two philosophies seem utterly incompatible.
Nietzsche tells you to fight and conquer. Zen tells you to release and accept.
But what if they are both right—at different times?
- When life demands action—channel Nietzsche. Push through resistance. Struggle. Overcome.
- When life demands stillness—embrace Zen. Accept what is. Let go of control. Adapt.
The highest level of mastery isn’t choosing one—it’s knowing when to apply each.
A warrior needs both:
- Willpower to act.
- Wisdom to know when not to.
Power and peace are not opposites. They are tools. Use them wisely.
Practical Takeaways: When to Use Each Approach
Conclusion: The True Path to Mastery
Nietzsche saw life as a battle. Zen saw life as a dance.
The real secret? Know when to fight. Know when to let go. Master both, and you master yourself.
“Flow with the river. But if you must build a bridge, build it strong.”