Live course from November 2026 to June 2027.
Afterwards available as VOD on this page.
+ Organised by Rigpa France +
During the 2026–2027 academic year, Philippe Cornu will continue the course “The Origins of Buddhism,” which was launched last year, based on the three volumes of his Manual of Buddhism (see “Study Materials”). The course will consist of one to two sessions per month, held at the Rigpa Levallois center (or at an alternative location once renovation work begins in Levallois) and will also be available online.
Given the current lack of training for French-speaking instructors, this course—which is open to everyone—is particularly and strongly recommended for Rigpa France instructors, as well as instructors from other countries, as it is systematically translated into English by Helen Depret. Access to the course will be free for Rigpa instructors, who will thus be able to catch up on the first year (2025–2026).
This year, during the first 6 or 7 sessions, we will complete our study of early Buddhism in India and Southeast Asia (following the Manuel de bouddhisme, Volume I), and then we will move on to the essential principles of Mahāyāna (following the Manuel de bouddhisme, Volume II), a study that will continue into the following year.
Philippe Cornu teaches in French and will be translated live into English.
The recordings will be available on this page within a month after each session.
About this course
Buddhism has been attracting growing interest in the West for more than fifty years now. But what do we really know about its foundations, its practices, and the scope of its vision?
This series invites us to return to the roots—the fundamental teachings of Buddhism (early Buddhism and Theravāda), as well as the insights and innovations of Mahāyāna—in order to understand its key principles and its development—philosophical, practical, and historical—and to appreciate its depth and relevance today.
These lectures are open to all and are aimed both at those who wish to discover what Buddhism is, beyond commonly held preconceptions and misconceptions, and at those who already practice it and wish to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Buddha's path.
Dates & Schedule
Each teaching takes place from 7.30pm to 9.30pm (Paris time).
Dates of the live teachings :
- November 9, 2026
- November 23, 2026
- December 14, 2026
- January 11, 2027
- January 25, 2027
- February 8, 2027
- February 22, 2027
- March 15, 2027
- April 19, 2027 (location to be determined)
- May ..., 2027 (location and date to be determined)
The recordings will be available on this page within a month after each session.
Translation
Philippe Cornu teaches in French and will be translated live into English.
Study material
To follow this course, the french readers can refer to the book written by Philippe Cornu, with the collaboration of Louise Bressollette:
- Manuel de bouddhisme. Philosophie, pratique et histoire, Tome I. Bouddhisme ancien et Theravāda, Rangdröl editions, 2019 (an English translation, currently in progress, will be published shortly). This book can be ordered from Rangdröl, at Lulu.com.
Manuel de bouddhisme. Philosophie, pratique et histoire, Tome II. Bouddhisme Mahāyāna - Éditions Rangdröl, 2019 (an English translation, currently in progress, will be published shortly). This book can be ordered from Rangdröl, at Lulu.com.
Open contribution
You can contribute whatever is currently appropriate and possible for you. Our recommendations are:
- Suggested contribution: 84 €
- If you want to give more: 100 €
- If you have less means: 67 €
Note: if you have already specifically subscribed to this event as part of your Rigpa France membership, you can contribute €0.
Speaker
Tibetologist, specialist of Buddhism in all its forms and long-time practitioner, Philippe Cornu has devoted his career to teaching and transmitting Buddhist philosophy in universities (INALCO, UCLouvain) as well as in Buddhist centers. He is the author of the Dictionnaire Encyclopédique du Bouddhisme and of Le bouddhisme : une philosophie du bonheur ? published by Seuil, or, very recently, Bouddha et Jésus. Le débat et le dialogue, published by Le Cerf. He is also the author of numerous translations of essential Tibetan texts such as the Five Treatises on the Mind alone by Vasubandhu or the Diamond Sutra and other Sutras of the Middle Way published by Fayard. Philippe Cornu has been appointed as a senior teacher in the Rigpa Sangha in August 2021.