Zen Sex: The Way of Making Love

How-to books on sex are like books on travel and cooking: the challenge is in translating the sensual dimension to words on a page. But Zen Sex: The Way of Making Love is more a guide to attitude than positions. Rather than trying to put you in the right mood, author Philip Toshio Sudo sets out to put you in the right mind for great sex.
The idea is simple: "The greatest challenge of Zen," he writes, "is to do what comes naturally in every moment; to express our true nature in every action." Sudo's way of Zen sex is to lose oneself in the experience of "ordinary" sex as a deeply absorbing--and potentially enlightening--meditation. "The more acutely we become attuned to this 'ordinary' energy, the more we begin to marvel at its dimension and wonder, the more we feel it and express it in our lives and lovemaking."

To tease readers into a more acute awareness of lovemaking, Zen Sex offers chapters on the poetic qualities of sexual expression. This is not the Kama Sutra, as Sudo says. Instead, he writes about discovery and anticipation, about scent and the cry of a lover, about the nature of entering and release. Purists, scholars, and others who prefer their Zen "dry-style" may resent his popularization and rangy interpretations. But for anyone intrigued by the merging of sexuality and spirituality, Zen Sex can bring inspiration and illumination into love play. It's a graceful little book the author designed himself, with images and calligraphy that create an open, intimate, and quietly erotic tone. One needs no familiarity with Zen to appreciate the book, but experienced Zen students may be surprised by new realms for classic teachings. --Rebecca Taylor --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly
Journalist Sudo (author of Zen Guitar and Zen Computer) says that Zen and sex are two ways to attain "true wisdom." What could be better than marrying the two together? Zen sex, Sudo promises, "is the best sex you can possibly have." While Sudo warns that the book "is not a modern-day Kama Sutra" containing techniques and exercises, it offers broad principles to augment sexual pleasure. Familiarity, Sudo says, is essential: good sex requires knowing your own style and preferences and those of your partner. But to ensure that sex doesn't become routine, he suggests having sex to an offbeat piece of music or in the middle of the day. Another sine qua non to Zen sex is acceptance: lovers can diet, exercise and wear slenderizing black outfits, but they also need to accept their bodies. This sex guide is more zany than Zen-y, however; while it is sure to delight lovers, its grounding in Zen Buddhism is often superficial. Sudo acknowledges, for example, that most Zen monks are celibate, but argues that "pure" Zen allows nature to express itself in all possible ways, including sex. Sudo's slanted views on the Zen tradition to suit the (albeit loving) purposes of this book should give serious Zen enthusiasts pause, even while they appreciate the frank wisdomAand the lovely Japanese shunga imagesAthat grace these pages. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Zen philosophy tells us that the great truth of the universe applies to all things at all times. Every moment of life, from guitar playing to working at the computer, to making love, offers a chance for Zen realization. Just awaken to that truth, Zen masters say; how and where do not matter. Sex offers the same opportunity for enlightenment as anything else. Zen Sex guides readers to the realization of that opportunity with "The Ten Stages of Zen Sex" and "The Six Principles in the Way of Making Love." Philip Sudo reminds our sex-obsessed age that not only is sex a fundamentally spiritual endeavour, it is indeed sacred.

This elegant, gorgeous book will appeal not only to Zen practitioners, but to any one looking for enlightenment and spirituality in all aspects of life.

Great gift potential.

Good for the sex book audience, Zen practitioners and readers looking for meaningful sex.

While there are quite a few books that deal with spirituality and sex from the Tantric and Taoist tradition, no other book has brought together Zen and sex.

Easy-to-do practices help readers learn and experience Zen sex.

208 pages
Publisher: HarperOne (January 18, 2005)
Language: English