Mode of Study

The monks need to memorize the five basic texts and many other smaller works and prayers. They spend the early mornings doing that. In India, they have morning debate (dam-bca’) from 8:00 to 9:30, begun with a short set of prayers. All the classes of the college debate on the same grounds, breaking into groups of two or three, with everyone shouting at the top of his voice. The

monk being questioned sits on the ground, the questioners stand. Since the groups debate right next to each other and the volume of shouting is enormous, the circumstance forces the monks to gain excellent concentration. The debates are very heated and punctuated with ritual gestures, such as clapping hands. This affords an excellent outlet for energy, since the teenage monks are

celibate and do not engage in sports. The rest of the day, each class has lessons with its teachers and the students memorize and study. The monks practice reciting the texts they have memorized by shouting them aloud, usually at the top of their voices. This is also an excellent outlet of energy and keeps them awake.

In the evenings, from 6 to 8, the monks have debate ground prayers (chos-grva). During the first hour, they recite over and again Praises to the Twenty-One Taras (sGrol-ma nyi-shu rtsa-gcig), to eliminate interference for their study. During the second hour, they recite various other prayers. They then debate the rest of the evening, until at least 10:30. Many stay until the early hours of the morning.

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