<DIV>The Tachikawa Ryu is a legendary secret Buddhist sect that taught: &#147;The highest spiritual attainments are best achieved through the physical act of sex.&#8221; The sect was banished in Japan and went underground hundreds of years ago, but many believe that it is still active. Scholar John Stevens provides&#150;based on actual events, hidden texts, and authentic Tantric tradition&#151;the first explication in English of Tachikawa Ryu teachings, in the form of a symbolic narrative about the young Shingon monk Dai-en and the Zen practitioner Lady Hotoke.<BR><BR>What emerges is a fascinating portrait of a little-known aspect of esoteric Buddhism and startling insights into the sexual nature of the rituals of conventional worship as well as the training of Tachikawa Ryu priests and priestesses.<BR><BR>This groundbreaking work includes black-and-white photographs of rare artwork and statuary that express the Tachikawa ideal.</DIV>