Debate

 

Buddhist monks debate

In Bhutan, and the Himalayan region, debate amongst monks is an engaging practice focused on controlled emotion and to reach ultimate clarity. The central purposes of Tibetan monastic debates are to defeat misconceptions, to establish the correct view, and to clear away objections to that view. Monks rotate between “attacker” and “defender” positions for the debate. The Attacker looms over his seated opponent and claps in his face at the end of every question not only to disrupt his logic but also to invoke emotions. The Defender must remain calm while rationally proving to his opponent that his stance is the correct view, with only three answers; Dö, Ta Madrup, and Khyappa Majung. The debate continues until the attacker wins, or the defender, using his controlled behavior logically proves his opponent wrong. 

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