Obviously, Epicurianism was a formidable school of philosophy—it's still around, after all. The world still contains a sizable population who deeply identify with this practical, reality-first philosophy. Instead of resorting to metaphysical questions, Epicurus chooses to focus his examination on the facts. So, when he isolates the singular problem of accepting one's death (he says all other psychic ailments are this problem in disguise) his answer is simply to acknowledge that, technically speaking, death implies no suffering, and therefore, it is not correct to fear it.
Instead we should focus on attaining happiness, but the word he uses for happiness refers to something different than the English word. In these Writings, Epicurus explains happiness as ataraxia, which is not at all dissimilar to nirvana on a surface level. Both states are categorized by the bliss of non-suffering. By locating himself right in the present reality, he can be strategic and ethical, and when he does what he wants, he gets what he wants, because he has eliminated neurosis from his psyche—at least that is his argument.
So, Epicurus is not exactly a Buddhist, but his theory is similar to Zen Buddhism, because both are incredibly pragmatic philosophies, and both maintain that the correct path to mystic bliss is to eliminate wrongful perception which stems from mismanaged desire (in Epicurus's opinion) or desire in the first place (as in Buddhism).
Another key feature of Epicurianism is that Epicurus's writings were ultimately a response to the idea that human fate is limited by the "gods." He says that, although probably there is more to reality than we can see, that doesn't excuse us from doing the best we can for ourselves on earth, so even in the case that the religions were true (in his polytheistic Greek environment), it would not change the essence of the human life—to be blissful and peaceful while working toward one's goals.
