As the sun slowly rises over the snow-capped Himalayan Mountains, a lone monk sits patiently in the courtyard of Sera Monastery. Freshly shaven, his head reveals its transformation - a once bald scalp now covered in thick, dark hair. This is a place of great learning, where monks come to debate the ancient texts of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism was founded in this very monastery, and it is one of the Three Great Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. These monasteries served as colleges, and it is understandable that the monks acquired a penchant for intellectual debate. In their view, knowledge and an understanding of the interconnectedness of everything are the only paths to liberation. Wisdom may be gained in part via philosophical discourse. debating philosophical ideas is so highly esteemed that the loser is obligated to accept the other side's reasoning.
The debates at Sera Monastery are some of the most renowned in the world, and visitors can watch as the monks passionately argue about the nature of reality and enlightenment. It is an incredible sight to behold, and one that sheds light on the deep intellectual tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.