On Thursday, 26 March at 7:00 p.m. in Giffels Auditorium on the campus of the University of Arkansas, Geshe Dorjee and Geshe Agha will provide the Fayettville community with a rare treat: a demonstration of authentic Tibetan debating.
Formal debate, while not unique to the Tibetan tradition, is unusual in that it is still a staple of their monastic education, and participation in it begins at a very early age. Typically, monks begin to debate at age 9-10 (or even younger if they show aptitude) when they initiate their study of the symbolic associations of the five primary colors in Tibetan iconography: yellow, white, red, green, and blue.
The method is fairly simple. The classic texts are first privately memorized and recited, and then pubicly debated, following traditional paths of question and answer. As the student progresses in ability, the texts become more complex, and the debates more rigorous.
It is not unusual to see elderly monks in the monasteries still debating. Above all, public debate gives the participants a solid command of the required information, information that is designed to have a substantial impact on the restructuring of the personality according to logical principles. From following a small segments of one of these debates, it is easy to see why logic and reasoning have become such a staple of much Tibetan Buddhist thought.
At the very least, it is an educational principle that Americans stand to learn a great deal from, and one that is immensely entertaining to watch. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity.
The event is sponsored by Students for a Free Tibet, Arkansas chapter, and admission is free and open to the public.
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