Wherein Chelsey shares what drew her to contemplative practice and academic study, and we discuss intimacy both spiritual and sensual, the lack of ultimate distinction between the two, the foggy genesis of Tantra, and conclude that all you need is love. :)

You can find Chelsey at: https://www.chelseyfasano.com/

and on twitter: https://twitter.com/fasano_lee

The podcast series we mentioned (highly recommended!) can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlkzlKFgdknxjhwG5wmXRVfrkeGczVPVI

Ikkyu:

...Rinzai’s disciples never got the Zen message, But I, the Blind Donkey, know the truth: Love play can make you immortal. The autumn breeze of a single night of love is better than a hundred thousand years of sterile sitting meditation...

...My life has been devoted to love play; I’ve no regrets about being tangled in red thread from head to foot, Nor am I ashamed to have spent my days as a Crazy Cloud— But I sure don’t like this long, long bitter autumn of no good sex! Follow the rule of celibacy blindly and you are no more than an ass; Break it and you are only human. The spirit of Zen is manifest in ways countless as the sands of the Ganges. Every newborn is a fruit of the conjugal bond. For how many eons have secret blossoms been budding and fading?...

Taken from: https://www.lionsroar.com/love-letters-sent-by-the-wind/

I mentor meditation in Shinzen Young's Unified Mindfulness system. If that or any of my ambling thoughts in long-form are of interest to you, check out my website: https://www.wystantbs.com/

My twitter: https://twitter.com/WystanTBS

Thanks for watching and listening! May you be happy, knowing always and in all ways the innate intimacy and connection of your senses, sensuality or no ;).

May all beings everywhere be free from all suffering!