Many practitioners of Buddhism find that Stoicism, the ancient Greco-Roman philosophy as a way of life, is similar to their own philosophy and a helpful addition to their lives. Meanwhile, many modern Stoics also practice Buddhist-inspired meditation and find inspiration in Buddhist ideas and practices. In this extended reflection, Patrick Ussher considers the ways Buddhism and Stoicism are similar, highly engaged, and practical philosophies to live by which can mutually inform and enlighten each other.

Ussher also explores why it is that of all forms of Buddhism, Western Buddhism is most similar to Stoicism. In the West, Buddhism has been "redeveloped" into a practical, highly engaged, present moment-focused philosophy as way of life. And, as it happens, this Western "reinvention" of Buddhism turns out to be much closer to Stoic philosophy than it is to the traditional Buddhism from which it draws. Similarly, Stoicism has also been undergoing a "reinvention" in recent times, which has particularly emphasized its practical nature as a philosophy as a way of life for anyone, regardless of belief in God, which was an essential feature of traditional Stoicism. The resulting "modern Stoicism" is, likewise, even closer to Western Buddhism than traditional Stoicism.

This book is for anyone who is interested in how either Stoicism or Buddhism can be a helpful and heartfelt addition to his or her life, as well as reflecting on how both Stoicism and Buddhism are undergoing dynamic "reinterpretations" in the modern world.