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

I heard about this book years ago during an interview on NPR. This is not a spoiler alert because the front of the book tells you the ending. This is the actual diary of a young woman who moved to Japan to become a Buddhist monk. Her writing is beautiful. She is in Thailand with her brother en route home for first time in years and is killed when her bus crashes. The only reason for the book is because of her death. Her mother gathered her letters and diary and published the book so now every reader takes this incredible journey to enlightenment. I have given this book as a gift several times over the years. Most recently I gave it to my 15 year old granddaughter who also loved it. It's just that kind of book.

This not so much a book as an edited journal and letters. I was spellbound by Maura's inner experiences and encouraged by her honesty about her struggles with her practice. I have found only a few books that relay the actual experience of zen as a practice. Most are instructional and though that is useful, I need to know that others find the path difficult and struggle within themselves also. I don't want to know about perfect practice - I want to know about the flaws and how to overcome them. This book is about that and a beautiful spirit.

This is one of my favorite books. I purchased this Kindle version even though I have a hard cover. The spiritual journey of Maura O'Halloran is so warm, poignant and open-hearted, it's a delight to read over and over. Her honesty and humbleness shines through her words. This is not a long, ponderous tome that you have to wade through... every passage speaks clearly of a true, 20th century saint.

This is a captivating book in the form of a diary Maura kept as a very young woman going to Japan and being accepted to study in a Zen monastery. The work is tedious and challenging, as are her reactions to the petty characteristics of those she lives with. She has an all-consuming desire to become enlightened. I was amazed and awed by her perseverance. A very moving account by such a young person.

I read this book 20 years ago and never forgot it. Now with new material it's even more profound. I love her humanity, how she has the same worries and self doubts about her meditative practice that I have experienced. It helps me to keep showing up to meditate. Maura is inspirational, yet very human and real. I applaud her family for sharing these writings with all of us.

What an amazing young woman to be so clear....Especially enjoyed the diary of her travels at the end. Consistently humble- never lets on that it's enlightenment that she is achieving. Simple honest...terrific

enjoyable read. Interesting look at Zen Buddhism from a non Japanese, female perspective.

Wonderful book. Couldn't put it down and did not want it to end. Very inspiring

I once founded and ran a Buddhist Sangha in the Zen tradition. Having had some deep spiritual experiences of my own I came to this book hoping to read about another person's similar experiences as the title states "Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind". So I am writing this review in case you are buying it out of interest of what Awakening is.The book is presented as a collection of letters to family and friends and also a daily journal Maura wrote while attending a Zen temple in Japan in the early 1980's. She has a natural, colourful way of writing that only becomes difficult to read when you get through 50-60 pages in one go; it's like reading 60 letters to you at once - a little hard going. However, Maura really shines through and it is this 'character' that makes it all worthwhile.Maura was a very determined young lady and totally committed to what she believed in. She was driven to get to the heart of whatever she did and I think this endeared her to the Japanese people who knew her. Not only did she stand out because she was female and white but because of her untiring commitment. The Master Go Roshi often singled her out to other monks and lay folk as an example of how to practise which clearly embarrassed yet pleased Maura.What this book does in a huge way is to illustrate how far we can go to commit to a spiritual practice and I think in that alone we have much to thank her for. Maura seems deeply compassionate and there are many examples of putting others first. She questions feelings of anger and resentment that arise when she has to work double-hard because other monks can't be bothered to help. If anything this book shows how unenlightened all (with the possible exception of Go-Roshi) the monks were, if anything, it is the people in the surrounding villages who give up food and money and time who are the true saints here.So why do I feel the publisher has let Maura down? On the cover it describes someone who is enlightened and an Irish Zen saint and because of this we approach the book with certain expectations and they are not met. The only evidence in her writing is that she was not awakened. For sure, she had 'enlightening' experiences and understood intellectually many of the deeper teachings yet if awakening did occur it did so after the last journal. Yet, she received an authorised certificate of "Enlightenment Achieved". I hope she was enlightened but it shouldn't matter to the enjoyment you will get from reading this book. If though you are buying this book to read about the awakening experience you will not find it here. On completing the book you will see there is a letter from Tetsugyu Ban, a monk who is mentioned throughout where he states that through much effort Maura "solved all the 3,000 Koans (Zen riddles)". If you are a practitioner of Zen and having read the book you will find that statement bewildering for it can only mean one of two things:1) Either Maura awakened and suddenly realised what all the Koans meant (which on the evidence of the book nobody, with the possible exception of Go-Roshi even knows what Awakening is)2) She worked through each one (which she describes in the book) and intellectually solves them. If you know anything of Zen you will know that Koans are riddles that can not be understood by thinking and working them out - their very purpose is so the intellectual mind gives up - then we reach the still place of calm that is our true nature. Koans do not have a right or wrong answer, they are simply a tool to tire the thinking mind so it might stop and give us some peace for a moment.Maura's life and determination struck a chord with the Japanese and on reflection much of this may have been due to a frustration that native folk were not as committed to the practice as she. She symbolised the commitment and compassion of what you would hope of a nun. Sadly, it is the interest of TV and Radio that singles her out as being different. It is the statue of her (that even she seems to allude to) that makes us think of her as a saint but in truth it is more likely to be as recognition of her determination and to inspire other novice monks and nuns.On reading this book we don't find a saint or an enlightened person; what we do find is a loving, caring, beautiful example of a human being whose determination and commitment should be a beacon to all of us and particularly those of us who struggle to make a monthly or weekly practice! Her story reflects our own inner grace. She proves that through simple effort spiritual experiences can be known. It won't change your life and won't answer any spiritual questions you may have but it will highlight that you are not on your own on this wonderful journey.

In 1982, after leaving Japan, Soshin was killed in a bus accident in Thailand. Later, her diaries were published in this book. I had heard about this lady years ago. An Irish woman who went to Japan to study zen buddhism. A documentary of sorts on her brief life. The book is well worth reading for anyone interested in Zen, people or patience. After reading it I felt I would have liked to have met her. Her sense of the world and joy at being alive evidenced in this book, makes it all the more sad.

This is an excellent introduction into the philosophy and every day life of Buddhism.I have read the book many years ago and I like it so much that I want to read it again.