Debate
The form of a debate is highly stylised. The questioner strides back and forth forming his train of questioning in his mind, while the responder sits on the ground before him. When the questioner is ready he fires his question together with a hand clap for emphasis. The responder has to answer immediately or face a scornful yell from the questioner.
The aim is to get the responder to contradict himself three times. If a stupid mistake is made then the questioner will swing his mala, (rosary beads), over the head of the responder in derision. The shedra monks spend three hours every day debating.
