SHANG SHUNG UK LECTURE SERIES & THE LIGHT OF KAILASH
A Platform for Rigorous, Accessible Tibetan Studies
The Shang Shung UK Lecture Series began fifteen years ago as a public platform for rigorous, accessible Tibetan studies. Inspired by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s lifetime of research and teaching, it brings scholars and practitioners together to explore Tibet’s languages, histories, arts, medicine, and contemplative traditions.
Launched in London with regular events at SOAS, the series set out to share high-quality research beyond academic walls. During the pandemic we moved online, opening the door to a worldwide audience, and we have since resumed in-person events across Europe and Asia—from Kathmandu to major European cities.
From the outset, we have curated talks where researchers can test ideas, present new findings, and translate specialist work for wider audiences—without diluting rigour. Most sessions are recorded and published on our YouTube channel, forming a growing open-access library and an ongoing global seminar in Tibetan studies.
The “Light of Kailash” Flagship
In 2023 the lecture series took on a new name—Light of Kailash—in homage to Rinpoche’s multi-volume research on Zhang Zhung and early Tibetan history. The guiding philosophy remains the same: to showcase original scholarship across history, religion, philology, art history, anthropology, and medical humanities.
With more than two dozen sessions, the series offers deep dives for specialists and committed general readers alike. Alongside the flagship, we host single-topic lectures and mini-series on art, medicine, ritual, and textual traditions from Karma Kagyu to Bön—together mapping Tibetan studies as it is practiced today: multidisciplinary, source-driven, and open to public learning.
Why it Matters
Namkhai Norbu championed a simple conviction: understanding Tibet’s languages, histories, and ritual cultures supports authentic practice. Our lecture series carries that conviction forward—giving researchers a public platform, students high-quality materials, and the wider public a clear way in. As archives open and new editions appear, the need for this bridgework only grows.
Watch & Stay Updated
Recordings are available year-round, with new sessions added regularly. Libraries, Dharma centres, and university groups use our playlists to curate thematic evenings—from Zhang Zhung history and treasure traditions to Padmasambhava studies and medical humanities.
You can see all the replays on our YouTube channel in the Light of Kailash playlist: