78sexsamSex can show us a lot about ourselves. Why am I about to have sex? We should be totally honest with ourselves.

—Sam Celia
Wilmington, North Carolina
artist, cook, musician, Zen student

78sexjakobDon’t get caught clinging.

—Jakob Leschly
Goonellabah, Australia
janitor

78sexmauraI wonder if some of the bad rap sex has acquired in Buddhism derives from the influence of asceticism. Sometimes it’s easier to dismiss all sex, all pleasure, than to sort out what constitutes too much attachment, too much suffering.

—Maura High
Carrboro, North Carolina
editor

79sexfrejaSex is an art form, a spiritual expression. I want to be a Buddhist and a lover.

—Freja Robinsong
Hayward, California
teacher’s aide

79sexjanellAfter becoming disillusioned with romance and goal-directed sex, I spent three contented years in celibacy. A few years later, I am happily married. There is surprisingly little difference!

—Janell Dickerson
Corinth, Mississippi
medical transcriptionist

79sexangelaWhat is there to say about sex? Sex is great. It’s sex. Sex is better if the person isn’t evil…but who really knows? What’s evil? There is this vulnerability because when we have sex we’re close to everything we spend a lot of time thinking we can run away from. I think. And sex is no big deal.

—Angela Lutzenberger
Seattle, Washington
chaplain

79sexjustineAs a Buddhist, I aim to practice the middle path—a direct exploration of sex that is neither heedless indulgence nor unconscious repression.

—Justine Dawson
San Francisco, California
dharma and sexuality teacher