The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry

What does it mean to hear the sacred speaking across traditions? The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry edited by Stephen Mitchell presents poetry chosen from the world's great religious and literary traditions—a luminous collection that reveals the universal heart of mystical experience. Mitchell, acclaimed translator of the Tao Te Ching and other spiritual classics, has gathered poems from diverse traditions that speak to the deepest human longing for connection with the divine. This anthology bridges East and West, ancient and modern, offering readers a taste of sacred poetry from Buddhist, Christian, Sufi, Hindu, Taoist, and Jewish traditions, as well as secular mystical verse.

The collection includes poems by Rumi, Kabir, Lao Tzu, the Psalms, St. Francis, Mirabai, Ryokan, Basho, William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Rilke, and many others. Mitchell's selections reveal how poets across centuries and cultures have used language to point toward the ineffable, to celebrate divine presence, to express longing for union with the Beloved, and to illuminate the sacred dimension of ordinary life. His brief, insightful introductions to each poet provide context without overwhelming the poems themselves, allowing the voices to speak directly to the reader's heart.

For contemplative readers, this anthology offers profound meditation on the universal mystical experience across traditions. The poems ask: What is the nature of divine love? How do we experience the sacred in everyday life? What unites mystical vision across cultures? This collection becomes a companion for interfaith spiritual seeking—teaching openness to diverse paths, recognition of universal truths, and the conviction that sacred poetry speaks a language the heart understands regardless of tradition.

What You'll Discover
Sacred poetry from world religious and literary traditions
Edited by Stephen Mitchell, acclaimed translator of the Tao Te Ching
Poems by Rumi, Kabir, Lao Tzu, St. Francis, Mirabai, Ryokan, Blake, Dickinson, Whitman, Rilke
Buddhist, Christian, Sufi, Hindu, Taoist, Jewish, and secular mystical verse
Brief introductions providing context for each poet
Multi-tradition anthology revealing the universal heart of mystical experience

Stephen Mitchell is a poet, translator, and scholar widely praised for his ability to make ancient spiritual texts accessible to contemporary readers. His translations include the Tao Te Ching, Bhagavad Gita, Gilgamesh, the Book of Job, and Rilke's poetry. His work is characterized by clarity, elegance, and deep respect for the spiritual traditions he translates. The Enlightened Heart reflects his lifelong engagement with sacred poetry from diverse traditions and his conviction that mystical experience transcends cultural and religious boundaries.

Perfect for: Readers of mystical and spiritual poetry, students of comparative religion and interfaith spirituality, contemplative readers exploring diverse traditions, those interested in sacred poetry from multiple cultures, anyone drawn to universal mystical experience, readers seeking introduction to world spiritual poetry, students of perennial philosophy and cross-tradition wisdom, admirers of Stephen Mitchell's translations and anthologies.

Paperback edition. Sacred poetry from world traditions—offering contemplative wisdom on divine love, mystical experience, and the universal heart through voices spanning centuries, cultures, and spiritual paths.