Customer Reviews

Zen Sex: The Way of Making Love

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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.

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.

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.

An excellent book for those who is interesting in zen and the same time loves sex. The old contradiction between life with pleasure and spiritual learning was easely solved in this text. You, who is on the Path, will discover a whole world of pleasure and joy. You, who enjoys sex and love, will be able to touch an old wisdom of zen. This will change your life. I promise that and this book helps you.

The book nicely intermixes, through extracts and otherwise, much erotic poetry (including the Sixth Dalai Lama and Ikkyu), and some of the most erotic and explicit illustrations of any of the books reviewed - the beautiful Japanese illustrations of intercourse.

One chapter is entitled the way of entering, and offers an introductory poem by Ikkyu:

whispering all night even at sixty
I'm hard in her again and again

Think of the book as a sort of Zen manual on sex using Ikkyu as its touchstone. To me, it's the most enjoyable blending of poetry, sex, philosophy and art that I know.

For this and a host of other reviews of erotic books, visit PoemShape and click on Books, Criticism and Reviews.

This book misrepresents Zen. The author calls Ikkyu as a Zen master. But he was called "Crazy Cloud" and was an outcast, and most Japanese would not consider him as a Zen master. It is very disturbing that the author refers him and his poems as if the philosophy of zen encourages all sorts of things he claims. The author should not have used the word "Zen" because he doesn't have profound knowledge in it obviously.

Although I have only read the excerpt, I feel troubled because I think Buddhism has been misrepresented. The author seems to have misunderstood Buddhism and the practice of celibacy.

The monastic precept of celibacy has been introduced by Shakyamuni Buddha for a very important reason, which is to weaken one's attachment to sensual desires and ultimately to eliminate it. Please note that the purpose of the precept is to eliminate greed and attachment, NOT the pleasures of life. In Buddhist texts, we have ample evidence that the Buddha is capable of enjoying the pleasures of life, such as admiring beautiful scenery and enjoying delicious food, but he is not attached to them. Ordinary people, on the other hand, are too attached to sensual desires, hence the need for precepts to facilitate their practice. If having sex can indeed contribute to one's enlightenment, WHY do so many Buddhist teachers (such as HH the Dalai Lama & Thich Nhat Hanh) enter monastic life and rigorously uphold the precept of celibacy? WHY has celibacy been made a cornerstone of monastic practice for 2500 years?

The simple truth is that sensual desires are an obstacle to gaining concentration and insight. Anyone who has practiced samatha (calming) meditation will know that sensual desire is a formidable hindrance. While the Buddha did not forbid his lay-followers from having intercourse, he has warned them repeatedly about its dangers.

The author has clearly ignored the Buddha's warning, and dispenses advice as if he is enlightened. This book is a classic example of an author expressing his own views and selling it as "Buddhist wisdom". Readers should read this book with a pinch, no, a whole bucket of salt.