Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Zen Journal and Letters of Maura "Soshin" O'Halloran

In a old temple tucked into a Tokyo back street, and at a remote temple in northern Japan, Maura O'Halloran began her formal Zen training. A restless, socially committed young Irish-American woman, Maura had already traveled the world in search of enlightenment and human fellowship. One thousand days later she received the dharma transmission of her Roshi. Her promising life was cut short when, at age 27, she was killed in an accident on the road to Chiang Mai; she continues to be revered as a Buddhist saint by her fellows in the Kannonji Temple. Collecting Maura's journals and letters during this three year period in Japan, Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind is a powerful record of one woman's journey to her destiny. Maura eloquently describes the rigors, hardships and ultimate joys of Zen training and temple life. Throughout her private and heart-felt writings, an endless sense of compassion is revealed which will deeply touch all who read this book.Maura O'Halloran is the author of 'Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Zen Journal and Letters of Maura "Soshin" O'Halloran', published 1994 under ISBN 9780804819770 and ISBN 0804819777.