The Oral Exam

The Drepung Monastery is the largest of the Yellow Sect monasterie with over two hundred monks. Buddhist monks fall into two categories, yellow, and red. The Yellow Sect is the highest as they are the only ones who even have a chance at being the Dalai Lama, but the Red are the only ones who can marry.

The day we were at Drepung they were holding the preparation tests for their oral finals. All the monks gather outside and Two by Two they are questioned by a group of five monks. The two wearing the yellow headdress are the ones being submitted to the questioning. At every correct answer the five slap there left arm palm down, if incorrect the palm will be up. They go through this numerous times to prepare.

The large woodpile is for the kitchen where enormous cauldrons cook meals for the monks, mostly, barley porridge, rice, and vegetables.