The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry

I bought this book after reading about it in my yoga magazine thinking I could really use a good book of poems to ponder and this book is terrific. The poems really will quiet your mind. I love that such a wide array of authors are represented - from Rumi to Dogen to Emily Dickenson to Walt Whitman. A great collection. Glad I bought it.

Much like Mitchell's Tao Te Ching this selection of poerty from various spiritual traditions is a joy to read and a nice tool for reflection and meditation. Zazen On The Mountain by Li Po has become my favorite poem and this work has been helpful to me in many ways. The Enlightened Heart is a lovely book and a great companion to his Tao Te Ching. Thumbs up for Mitchell's work as editor.

Elegantly, Stephen Mitchell has compiled sublime poetry from the world's sacred traditions in this inspiring collection. In a single reading one can experience the lyrical wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, paradoxical precision of Chuang-Tzu, enthusiasm of Gerard Manley Hopkins, and the sensuality of Rumi and the Song of Solomon. When poets of the sacred explore the divine, whether as a part of a religious tradition or apart from religious tradition, all rises and all converges. Beauty reigns. This collection invites one to hold the whole world of the sacred in one's hands and savor the mystical beauty of poetry and divinity.

I ran across "The Enlightened Heart" while visiting an ashram in Central Florida. The book has been an inspiration by providing meditative material from various cultures throughout the ages. Much like Mitchell's "Tao Te Ching" the translation of the sacred texts is fluid and thought provoking, shedding new light on the abstract process of ancient masters. The reading is simply delightful.

The collection of poetry from various spiritual teachers within this book finds its way into the talks I give at church, correspondence with friends, and meditation moments. I borrowed this book from our church library, and have found it so inspiring I couldn't let it go back until I found a copy for my personal library...I've had the book for over a year. It is my favorite collection of spiritual poetry.