Zen Sex: The Way of Making Love [Hardcover]

Philip T. Sudo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2000

Artfully presented, Zen's eternal principles are applied to love-making, illuminating the rich spiritual and sensual possibilities of fully savouring each moment of sexual intimacy.

Zen philosophy teache that everything from washing dishes to sit

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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

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.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1 edition (July 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062516795
• ISBN-13: 978-0062516794
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,209,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Resolving the disparity between sexuality and spirituality..., July 10, 2005

By 

Kaizen (San Francisco Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Zen Sex: The Way of Making Love (Hardcover)

Although dogmatic practitioners of Zen may be offended by this book, and may even revile it (as other reviews show), those who embrace the spirit of Zen (in what I believe is its innate radicalness) are likely to find great refreshment and depth in this book. Sudo writes with great clairty of mind and vastness of heart, and helps to resolve the painful disparity (which many spiritual practitioners face) between spirituality and sexuality. For anyone who wishes to bring greater depth, integrity, and compassion to their sex life and to their spiritual practice, I wholeheartely recommend this delightful book, and I thank Philip Sudo for his gift to myself and to all beings who are fortunate enough to read it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cherish each moment., February 6, 2006

By 

Benjamin Allen "Integral Thinker" (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zen Sex: The Way of Making Love (Paperback)

Although many reviewers berate the book on the grounds that it misrepresents Zen Buddhism, they miss a key point: the book is not about Zen Buddhism. The book is about the lifestlye/philosophy (key words) of Zen and how it relates to our experience in the bedroom.

This book will teach you how to truely cherish your lover and the intimate moments you have together. Sudo's writing fuses human spirituality and sexuality to present to us the right way to approach the bedroom. If you are willing to learn, the book will teach you to dissolve your ego, better your sex life, and most importantly cherish your lover.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterfully written!, May 24, 2003

By 

Neil J. Hajba "neil_in_la" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zen Sex: The Way of Making Love (Hardcover)

A wonderful resource for anyone interested in integrating spiritual practices into their sexuality/sensuality. Written in a clear and concise manner that is easily digestable. I recommend this book without reservation as great reading and a fabulous resource.