Paul Williams (Buddhist studies scholar) explained

Paul Williams (born 1950) is Emeritus Professor of Indian and Tibetan Philosophy at the University of Bristol, England. Until his retirement in 2011 he was also director for the University's Centre for Buddhist Studies, and is a former president of the UK Association for Buddhist Studies.

Biography

Williams studied at the University of Sussex's School of African & Asian Studies where he graduated with a first class BA in 1972. He then went on to study Buddhist Philosophy at Wadham College, University of Oxford, where he was awarded his DPhil in 1978. His main research interests are Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophy, Mahayana Buddhism, and Medieval philosophical and mystical thought.

Williams was a Buddhist himself for many years but has since converted to Roman Catholicism, an experience he wrote about in his book The Unexpected Way[1] [2] and in an article, "On converting from Buddhism to Catholicism – One convert's story."[3] He is now a professed lay member of the Dominican Order.[3]

Williams has three adult children.[3]

Select bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Alison Chiesa, "Finding a rational religion: A leading British academic has reversed the usual trend by converting from Buddhism to Catholicism. Alison Chiesa hears about the reasoning behind his change of religion." The Herald (Glasgow), 4 July 2005.
  2. Paul J. Griffiths, "On honeymoon", Commonweal, 17 January 2003.
  3. http://whyimcatholic.com/index.php/conversion-stories/buddhist-converts/65-buddhist-convert-paul-williams Paul Williams, On converting from Buddhism to Catholicism – One convert's story