From the Chiasmus archive: November 6th, 2018 "SEX AND THE UNIVERSE (PART 2)"

Black Holes, Quasars, Nebulas, Pulsars.  The gamut of titles that describe an active and particle charged Cosmos, holds in its self a sexual allure of descriptions.   Exploring sex, science and fiction all wrapped about within the possibilities of a Universe in all of its structure.  Is not a new concept in science fiction, touched upon in the 1960s with the New Wave Science Fiction writers, pushed further courtesy of the French writers of the 1970s and 1980s and visually described by the comic book artists such as Jean Giraud (Mœbius) and Philippe Druillet who were responsible for Métal Hurlant's  (French adult scifi comic) impact on popular culture.  Important milestones in science fiction that at least for me, is the combination of humanity's fragility within the ferocious power of the cosmos.  It is in these brief moments in time - that sex and sexuality, could be the only aspect of power that we can use to offset our predicament.  Despite it also being a fleeting moment.  To understand this, is important to move away from the materialistic reflections of sexuality, more so the gratifying expose portrayed by the mass media.  That, more than not, shows the utter confusion whilst trying to source and lead markets. Sex and the exploration of sex in literature will continue on.  And what more perfect combination is when one writes about 'Sex and the Universe'.   

One of my influences and it is not solely confined to writing.  Is the idealism of early Vajrayana and Mahayana which evolved into Tantric Buddhism.  To utilize the tantric as a medium to turn away from human suffering, which is always self imposed.  That sex and death, have an interlinked relationship.   It is an attempt at achieving enlightenment before or within the realms of destruction. Which has already been counting down since a person has been born.  As the Sōtō Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki once said.  “Life is like stepping onto a boat which is about to sail out to sea and sink.”  So, I inscribe a balance within the urgency of sex, particularly in my books, as an endeavor at trying, to what the Buddhists would say is attaining the Original Mind.  Sex as a temporary moment in time. That under a Tantric experienced, is decreed as the “Mahasukha” (Great Bliss), but what is very important to define, it is not a lingering desire.  Sex ends, just like everything else.  Yet, if it is achieved as a transcendence away from attachment and which I will also add, the indifference of harsh Universe, then it becomes a power.  Of course this still requires practice to which it is an ongoing process.  As the quote from Hevajra tantra says: 

"This practice [of sexual union with a consort] is not taught for the sake of enjoyment, but for the examination of one's own thought, whether the mind is steady or waving..."

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(A.Glass 2018.  Art concepts: A.Glass 2023)