Much of Buddhism is like this, though. At its root, it is more akin to philosophy than religion. So it is often compatible with just about any other ideology save nihilistic based world-views, which result in psychotic breaks when fused with intense meditative practices.
Could you elaborate on this? As I understand it, nihilism is the central tenet of Buddhism: everything is empty, value is nowhere to be found in the world, all things are transient, and attachment causes suffering.
Certainly. What follows are general explanations as I understood them academically rather than definitive truths I espouse myself:
From my limited understanding, the Buddhist concept of "inherent emptiness" of all external manifestations merely equates to the scientific understanding that our reality is comprised of empty space. Yet simultaneously, this empty space is not empty. From the Tibetan Buddhists, one learns the concept of "Clear Light Wisdom," which is essentially the full knowledge and acceptance of what this emptiness really means:
that all things are one interconnected fabric of living conscious awareness.
The multitudes are unaware that existence is transient, yet eternal, empty, yet full, valueless, yet priceless - all at the same time. This lack of awareness is called Samsara, the false or superficial world of perception. Meditation, The Eight Fold Path, and so forth are techniques to lift the veil of Samsara to truly see existence as it is. Therefore, the enlightened person equipped with this knowledge feels compassion towards all others because they are unenlightened to this fundamental truth, yet are still an extension of ourselves worthy of acceptance, forgiveness and unconditional love.
Nihilism, on the other hand, in its three most common manifestations (existentialist, metaphysical or epidemiological) argues that:
1) external reality holds no intrinsic value, meaning or purpose
2) knowledge of the external world is impossible or always incomplete in its acquisition and comprehension
3) reality (internal and/or external) does not actually exist
Nihilists often fuse this view with negative, anarchistic, cynical and destructive conclusions, often the result of pre-existing anti-social and dysfunctional mental states. Nihilism when taken to its conclusion creates an island of an individual consciousness. External reality is unknowable, empty, unconscious. Therefore, the only will is your own. The only rules are those that the individual can create. The only limitation - positive "feel good" emotions and ideologies that seek to blunt the edges of the truth: that all things are disconnected, unconscious and without purpose at all.
In Nihilism, Man becomes an island of One. In Buddhism, Man becomes One with The Great All.
Now to clarify the dangerous aspects: I took classes with The 14th Dalai Lama for six full days among over 400 students and other academics. One of the central lectures consisted of the effects of meditation on the Western mind, specifically when paired with a nihilistic view point. Nihilism in these circles is said to be akin to a disease that is highly prevalent in the West and toxic to our societies.
When fused with meditation, such a person may come to the conclusion that he or she is a lone god/consciousness in a sea of illusion. This can create depression, anger and hostility. If the person is unprepared for the visions that certain meditative states can cause, they may also take them literally and act on what they've seen. If the belief is that others are not real, for example, it begs the question if there are really consequences when performing harmful actions. It can also lead to the elevation of concepts like chaos and pain as core methodologies used to "feel something." In extreme cases, the classes described instances of suicide and rampant violence towards others. Some Buddhists also equate the self-emulations of monks as a type of nihilistic "wrong view" as well.
