Of all the amazing things we witnessed while in Tibet, the debating monks at Sera Monastery, less than two miles from Lhasa, was the most surprising.
Normally our interactions with monks involved sitting, praying, chanting, and the occasional bicycle ride. Seeing monks in full "debate mode" was indescribable.
As part of their studies, young monks are given a topic to debate for three hours, taking turns changing positions on the topic. It may look a bit frightening, but the slapping of the hand is the young monk's way of ending the stating of each argumentative point.
Lessons well learned, no doubt.
Normally our interactions with monks involved sitting, praying, chanting, and the occasional bicycle ride. Seeing monks in full "debate mode" was indescribable.
As part of their studies, young monks are given a topic to debate for three hours, taking turns changing positions on the topic. It may look a bit frightening, but the slapping of the hand is the young monk's way of ending the stating of each argumentative point.
Lessons well learned, no doubt.
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