the final night at Sera Jeh

What a treat! For my final night here one of the things I wanted to do was get a few more shots at a debate. That bad news was there is no big debate class tonight. At this point you are supposed to say oh that's bad. To which I reply, No that's good! Because there was a smaller debate class at each Khamson (temple). So I went to Tehor Khamson, the one Geshe La belongs too, and watched. There was 2 monks sitting at the top of the steps to the gompa (temple) in front of them was the entire debate class, easily a couple of hundred monks. They were basically debating their class. I watched as they laughed at their mistakes, challenged assertions and then laughed some more. I asked one of the teachers if it was ok to take pictures. He practically insisted on it.

I walked around the outside of the group and took a few shots. I really did not want to disturb the class. I sat on some steps and even though I had no clue what was being said I laughed along with them. Well I did get one point when one of the monks on top of the steps told a monk in the audience that his assertions was something that a small boy would say and proceeded to set him straight. He got a roar of laughter.

It then began to rain so everyone moved inside. I packed up my things and was getting ready to move on when the Geku insisted that I come inside. I was honored. They all moved in with me following behind and picked up the debate where they left off. I moved around and took a few more pictures sitting up front close to the action. Tea was served to all and the debate continued.

I figured I had better go. I did not want to overstay my welcome. As I moved to the back of the gompa the Geku greeted me with a you monk carrying a cup and another one of their monster teapots. He escorted me to a cushion and insisted I stay for a while longer and have some tea.

It was wonderful. The roars of laughter, the intensity of the hand slapping and foot stomping. I didn't understand the words but I got the importance. The Buddha told us not to just accept his teachings, that we should examine them like we would gold to make sure that they are pure. What an incredible way to follow this teaching.

Bilbo