Pownal Street Press is honoured to announce the publication of Kindling Hope: Daily Passages from Darkness into Light by Zhen-Ru. This collection of work was made possible by Amrita Translation Foundation, and Buddhist scholar and translator, Kacy Lin.
Expanding beyond compassion, Kindling Hope is a reflective voyage of self-discovery. With each of the passages, by reading one a day, seekers are invited to enter a life of joy, and to shift perspective from darkness into light. Available for the first time in English, this collection of Zhen-Ru’s words will encourage readers to grow beyond their greatest aspirations.
Zhen-Ru is a prolific writer, composer, humanitarian, and Buddhist teacher. She has dedicated her life to studying, practicing, and teaching Buddhism. Students study her teachings worldwide, including Buddhist monks, nuns, and laypeople.
Zhen-Ru’s poems show how Buddhist insights can be used within every aspect of life, from family relationships to environmental stewardship. Zhen-Ru has also initiated many charitable works, working to benefit the welfare of humans, animals, as well as the environment. Her goal is to be compassionate and understanding towards all, including the Earth, and to inspire others to do the same.
Kindling Hope: Daily Passages from Darkness into Light
ISBN: 9781998129294
$29.95 CAD | Hardback
On Sale: April 22, 2025
Cover design and art by Clara Encinas
It has been our pleasure to work with the Amrita Translation Foundation on this very important project. We are committed to publishing books that will make a positive difference in the world and this collection will do just that.
—Maureen Duffy & Genevieve Loughlin, Founders, Pownal Street Press.
About Zhen-Ru
Zhen-Ru was born into a family of educators. As a child, she began thinking deeply about existential questions. After extensive reading and research, she was determined to raise her consciousness by instilling the Buddha’s teaching into her own life. Despite being top of the class in her youth, she left the traditional education system and traveled extensively throughout Asia, studying and learning from great Buddhist teachers.
About Amrita Translation Foundation
Based on Prince Edward Island, Amrita Translation Foundation is a group committed to creating a happier, more peaceful world. By preserving and translating Zhen-Ru’s work, Amrita aims to make this collection of Buddhist teachings more accessible to a wider audience. To ensure the highest level of accuracy, this team of monastic translators has dedicated their lives to the study and practice of Buddhist teachings. They are educated and trained in the Five Great Treatises curriculum, a rigorous Buddhist curriculum with roots tracing to the Tibetan and ancient Indian Nalanda traditions.
About Kacy Lin
Kacy Lin is a translator who specializes in the translation of Buddhist works from Mandarin to English. She holds a Master’s degree in Psycho-Spiritual studies from the University of Toronto, and has dedicated many years to the translation and practice of Buddhist teachings.
Kacy’s deep understanding of both Buddhist philosophy and Western spirituality has enabled her to translate and render Zhen-Ru’s complex teachings with clarity and precision, making it accessible to a global audience, and fostering a greater cross-cultural understanding and a deeper appreciation for Buddhist spirituality. In addition to her translation work, Kacy practices Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy in hospitals around the Toronto area, providing guidance and support to those who are undergoing difficult life transitions.
Pownal Street Press is PEI’s newest publishing house. Women owned and women led, friendly, warm and professional: Pownal Street Press brings an approachable perspective to publishing books. For more information about the Press and its books, please visit: www.pownalstreetpress.com.