The traditional account of Buddhism's origin was introduced into Tibet in the seventh century by a Nepali and a Chinese princess who became the wives of the Tibetan king Srongtsen Gampo. However, the new religion was actually established by one of the successors of that king when he called from India the monk Padmasambhava, who founded a Buddhist monastery near Lhasa. Tibetan Buddhism is sometimes called Lamaism, from the name of the Tibetan monks, the lamas (superior ones). .
Tibetan Buddhism derives from the mix of Buddhism and yoga which started to arrive in Tibet from India briefly around the late eighth century and then became more popular from the thirteenth century and continued from that point. Indian Buddhism around that time had involved both Hindu yogic and tantric practices along with the classical teachings of the historical Buddha who lived around five hundred B.C. This Buddhism acknowledged that there were two paths to enlightenment (exceeding the identification of the personal ego). The first path was one that was taught in the sutras according to the historical teachings. Morality, concentration, and wisdom were the heart of the sutra practice. The second path, which has become the cornerstone of Tibetan variations, was the tantric path. The tantric practice combined the sutra teachings with techniques adapted from Hindu systems of yoga and tantra.
Tantric systems convert the basic human passions of desire and aversion for the purpose of spiritual development. Tantra purifies desire and aversion into wholesome and helpful forces to benefit the person. Tibetan Tantra, also known as the Vajrayana, involves the major aspects of both the Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhist teachings. Hinayana and Mahayana are two schools of Buddhist practice that have somewhat different philosophies, but share basic similar goals and techniques. .
The tantric path includes many steps for reflection, contemplation, meditation, and activities to help someone achieve the tantric path.