When it comes to sex, Western Buddhists tend to be fairly liberal. But as scholar José Cabezón explains, Buddhist tradition takes a much more conservative approach, prohibiting, among other things, oral or anal sex, male homosexuality, and even sex during daylight hours. He challenges us not to dismiss traditional Buddhist views on sexuality but rather to critically examine [...]
Healthy Desire: A Buddhist’s View of Mindfulness & Sex
Buddhist practitioner Ray Buckner shares how bringing mindfulness into sex helps us develop a healthier relationship with both ourselves and our partner, and deepens our connection between mind and body. Eyes wide, out of breath, I remember my exact words. Spoken slowly and softly, I said, “Wow. That was literally the most amazing experience I have ever had in my entire [...]
Flesh Sex Desire
Karen Connelly feels the heat. Flesh. Sex. Desire. It’s not the only holy trinity, but it’s my favorite one, Buddhist noble truths notwithstanding. All Buddhist schools agree on the second noble truth—that we suffer because we desire. I know it. There is no way to wiggle out of it. Trust me, I’ve tried. Changing the vocabulary to “attachment” does not work at all. [...]
Watch the heartwarming “Love Has No Labels” — the first PSA to win an Emmy
We first shared this beautiful PSA in March of 2015. Now, it's the first PSA to win an Emmy Award. "Love Has No Labels," made by the Ad Council as part of a year-long campaign about implicit bias, reminds us about love's power to cross any and all perceived boundaries. "Most of us aren’t even conscious of our prejudice," the campaign's website explains. "That’s why [...]
The Sex Talk
Artist Rima Fujita helps teach Tibetan kids the facts of life. Just like youth in the West, Tibetans are having sex at an increasingly early age. Never having received sex education in school, many of them are getting pregnant and contracting STDs. When the Tibetan government-in exile resolved to tackle this issue, they held a writing contest at Tibetan refugee schools, and [...]
On Awakening Through Race, Sexuality, and Gender
I was hungry when I attended my first Nichiren Buddhist meeting in 1988. I mean that literally. I wanted to go out to eat at a restaurant with two friends of mine, but they insisted that I first attend a Buddhist meeting with them that evening before we ate. With some irritation and a good deal of resistance I sat through the meeting with the group as they [...]
Shambhala Sun Audio: Brad Warner, Part Two — Talking “Sex, Sin, and Zen,” and himself
The second installment of our Shambhala Sun Audio interview with Brad Warner is here. In the following segment, the Soto Zen priest and author of the new book Sex, Sin and Zen -- read an excerpt here -- talks about the image that people often have of him, and how being in front of the media can both help and hinder his work as a teacher of Zen Buddhism. And also: what's with [...]
Shambhala Sun Audio: Brad Warner talks “Sex, Sin, and Zen” (Part One)
How are Buddhist teachings relevant in a world where -- for example -- porn is, for many, just a few keyboard taps away? Do Buddhists have a common blind spot when it comes to observing our relationship to sexuality? Does being a meditator mean never having to say you're horny? In this first installment of his new Shambhala Sun Audio interview, Soto Zen priest and author [...]
Dealing with sex & preferences
Zen teacher Brad Warner addresses the notion of preferences. Dealing with them -- in bed, and out of it -- isn't, he says, as cut and dried, or difficult, as some would believe. There’s a famous Chinese poem called “Faith Mind Inscription.” In spite of its lousy title, it’s one of the most profound pieces of literature in all of Zen. The first verse sets forth the premise of [...]
I’m Loving It
Genine Lentine on how a McJob and her brother’s magic tricks led her to the zendo. Advisory: this piece contains adult language and partially unbuttoned fast food uniforms. What brings you here this morning? This is the guiding question of the “way-seeking mind talk,” a talk students at the San Francisco Zen Center are invited to offer on Thursday mornings during [...]