Curriculum

Tibetan Heart Yoga Series 8: Connecting Hearts, Expanding Wisdom; The Partner Series

Where do I end and you begin? Lectures based on verses from Master Shantideva's "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life," and a beautiful yoga series help us explore the boundaries between "you" and "me". Master Shantideva presents the fine art of seeing ourselves and others as equal, exchanging ourselves with them, and finally realizing that they are us. Through this practice we plant powerful seeds for peace by breaking down the physical barriers that separate us from others. We use the healing power of human contact, poses specifically designed for two people, and follow a guided meditation that allows the heart to open.

Click here to listen to an excerpt from Tibetan Heart Yoga Series 8 Course in San Pancho, Mexico taught by Lama Christie McNally in 2009.   

The verses for this reading are taken from “The Chapter on Meditation,” the eighth section of A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, written by the Indian master Shantideva in about 700ad.

Verse 90

k0+#-+$-#6,-`o-1(1-.-,mk

k+$-.}-(m+-`o-80+-+{-0"}1k

k0+{-+$-&r#-0#;-1(1-.=-,k

k*1=-%+-0+#-06m,-0Ns$-0:-Ak

dak dang shen du nyampa ni

dangpo nyi du be de gom

de dang duk-ngel nyampe na

tamche dakshin sungwar ja

praTmsmtamadaE Éavyedevmadrat!,

smÊ>osuoa> sveR palnIya myaTmvt!.90.

para-atma samatamadau bhavayed evam adarat

sama duhkha sukhah sarve palaniya maya-atmavat

From the very beginning exert yourself

In the practice of treating others

And yourself the same.

When the happiness and the sufferings

Are the same, then you will care for all

Just as you do yourself.

Verse 91

k;#-.-;-=}#=-+A{-0-M1-1$-9$-k

k9}$=-=v-0Ns$-A8m-;v=-=v-#%m#-.-W:k

k+{-06m,-8E}-0-*-++-0+{-&r#-+#

k*1=-%+-0+#-06m,-0+{-0-8+}+-1(1-#%m# k

lakpa lasok yewa nam mang yang

yongsu sunjay lusu chikpa tar

deshin drowa tade deduk dak

tamche dakshin dewa du-nyam chik

hStaidÉeden b÷àkar> kayae ywEk> pirpalnIy>,

twa jgiÑÚmiÉÚÊ>o suoaTmk< svRimd< twEv.91.

hasta-adi bhedena bahu prakarah kayo yathaikah paripalaniyah

tatha jagad bhinnam abhinna duhkha sukha-atmakam sarvam idam tathaiva

There are many separate parts, the hands

And all the rest, but we dearly care

For them all, as a single body.

Just so shall I work for the happiness of every different being,

Treating all as equal, all as one,

Thinking of their joy and pain as if it were my own.

Click here to read the study requirements to become accredited to teach this series through YSI.

Find the next Tibetan Heart Yoga Series 8 Course being taught near you or around the world on our Schedule Page.