Born December 31 1921, Saint-Mandé (Val-de-Marne). Died March 2 1993.
Training and professional career
- 1941-1945 : Public school teacher
- 1946 : Teaching degree in Philosophy, Paris
- 1947-1951 : Research associate at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (French National Center for Scientific Research)
- 1947 : Certificate of Advanced Studies in Indian Studies, Paris
- 1947 : Diplôme d'études supérieures de Philosophie, Paris
- 1947 : Diplôme de l'École pratique des hautes Études, IVe section
- 1951 : Doctorat ès Lettres, Paris
- 1951-1955 : Chargé de recherche
- 1955-1956 : Senior Researcher
- 1956-1973 : Director of Studies in Philology of Buddhist Texts at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, IVe section
- 1971-1993 : Professor at the Collège de France, Chair of Buddhist Studies
Missions in Asia
- 1955 : South India and Ceylon, September-December
- 1964 : South India, September-November
- 1965 : India and Cambodia, September-November
- 1966 : Cambodia and Thailand, September-November
- 1967 : Cambodia, September-November
- 1968 : Cambodia, September-November
- 1978 : North India, October
- 1985 : North India, October