Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind

By Maura O'Halloran, Beth O'Halloran (illustrator),

Book cover of Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Life and Letters of an Irish Zen Saint

Book description

One of the most beloved Buddhist books of all time-having inspired popular musicians, artists, a documentary film, and countless readers-is now in an expanded, new edition, loaded with extras. Absolutely absorbing from start to finish, this is a true story you might truly fall in love with.

At only 24,…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I read this book when it first came out in 1995 and have kept a copy of it for all those years, re-reading it again and again. This book is the journal and letters of Maura O'Halloran, a young Irish-American who went to Japan and joined a Zen Buddhist temple for monks at a time (the early 1980s) when few western women were admitted to such extremely arduous training. It tells of her three years in the temple in a heart-warming, honest way, with an abundance of humor. This book gives a brilliant look into life in a Zen temple,…

Want books like Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind.

Browse books like Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in spirituality, Ireland, and zen?

Spirituality 313 books
Ireland 301 books
Zen 93 books