The annual conference of the UKABS (UK Association for Buddhist Studies) took place at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London (Rinpoche’s alma mater) in London on September 19, 2016. The UKABS acts as a focal point for Buddhist Studies in the UK and is open to academics, post-graduates, and unaffiliated Buddhist scholars, as well as interested Buddhist practitioners. Many who attended this year’s gathering are involved in Khyentse Foundation’s Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Buddhist Studies. Co-winners of the 2015 KF award, Dr. Borgland (U of Oslo) and Dr. Higgins (U of Vienna) gave presentations on their theses. Dr. Borgland presented A Study of the Adhikaraṇavastu: Legal Settlement Procedures of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya also gave a talk; Dr. Higgins presented The Nature and Role of Consciousness in Tibetan Great Perfection (Dzogchen) Soteriology. 

KF is accepting nominations from accredited universities for the European Award from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2016. Read more here.

Photo by Natchapol Sirisawad. From left to right: Vincent Tournier, SOAS; Christine Ng and Jun Xie of Khyentse Foundation; Dr. Naomi Appleton, University of Edinburg; Ann Heirman, University of Ghent; Dr. Jens Wilhelm Borgland, University of Oslo; Dr Hiroko Kawanami, Lancaster University; Dr. David Higgins, University of Vienna, and Professor Peter Skilling.