Sera Monastery

Fascinating Spectacle of Debating Monks Our group of 14 visited the Sera Monastery on 9th June 2018 in the afternoon. After obtaining entry tickets (50 CNY per person), we passed through the security gate and walked up along the stone paved path for about 250 metres, stopping on the way to see a small Stupa on the right hand side. The path led us to the Debating Courtyard of crushed stone, where monks debate Buddhist scripture at 1500 hours every day except on Sundays. When we reached the “Debating Courtyard” around 1545, the debating session was in full swing. There were more than 100 monks in the courtyard, some seated on cushions and others standing. The air in the courtyard was filled with the sound of monks some yelling and insistent and others listening and speaking quietly. The gestures of the monks, using their whole body, moving forward and backwards, at the same time bringing their hands together in a violent clap appeared to give force to each ones argument. You get used to the noise of continuous smacking of hands and feel a sense of energy in the air. The public are allowed to watch this ritual from the sides. However, photographing within the Debating Courtyard is not permitted except with the cell phones. I was fascinated by this spectacle. At the conclusion of the debating session all monks seated themselves and recited their prayers. During the prayer session a senior monk walked around the praying monks holding a lighted incense stick. We next visited the Assembly Hall built on a large number of columns draped in red cloth. There were many Buddha statues here, together with a multitude of other statues and coloured drawings on the walls. The seats on the hall draped in red are for the monks who come to the hall to pray as well as for administrative meetings. Although photographs are not permitted, after pleading with the monks using hand gestures, I was permitted to take just three photos within the Assembly Hall. These I now greatly treasure!