ZEN SEX

In this Zen guide to sex, Hawaiian journalist Sudo (Zen Computer, not reviewed) portrays lovemaking as a glorious pathway to self-fulfillment.

Despite the fact that Zen Buddhism demands celibacy on the journey to enlightenment, Sudo constructs sexuality as a positive force within a Zen paradigm. He reads the poetry of iconoclastic Zen master Ikkyu Sojun (1394–1481) in order to support his mission to integrate a healthy sexuality into the celibate principles of Zen Buddhism. Through this goal, Sudo attempts both to help people achieve emotionally and spiritually satisfying sex lives and to appreciate the beauty of life around them. In three units, the book addresses the seven ways of the mind (desire, fantasy, discovery, initiating, anticipation, surprise, familiar), the seven ways of the body (entering, accepting, touch, scent, the eyes, the mouth, the cry), and the seven ways of the spirit (interplay, giving, clouds, union, release, creation, birth and rebirth). Following each of these 21 chapters, Sudo includes a “homework” exercise of reflective questions entitled “the way to zen sex”; these assignments direct the reader to ponder issues such as “what form will your lovemaking take tonight? how will you enter? how will you exit?” Notwithstanding the particulars of entrances and exits, cheesy moments could have been avoided more energetically: only one with true enlightenment could refrain from squirming when Sudo thanks his partner Tracy “for all the nights of research.” Ultimately, Sudo’s message is that we should focus on the experience of life and of sex in order to perceive the beauty and completeness of ourselves. Although the book is primarily directed to a heterosexual audience, Sudo makes inclusive gestures to the homosexual reader as well, as enlightenment through sexuality is not dependent upon the sex of one’s partner.

A gentle and thoughtful book about sex and its place in a full life, a bit handicapped by its aphoristic style.