Tibetan Buddhism derives from both Buddhism and yoga which started to arrive in Tibet from India briefly around the late eighth century and then more steadily from the thirteenth century onwards.

Tibetan Tantra (also known as the Vajrayana ) incorporates the major aspects of both the Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhist teachings. Hinayana and Mahayana are two schools of Buddhist practice that have basically similar goals and techniques but somewhat differing philosophies. For instance, Theravadin Buddhism is a Hinayana teaching and Zen Buddhism is a Mahayana teaching. Tantra itself has various schools which can be grouped by the relative emphasis they place on working with exoteric and esoteric practices.

Vajrayana Buddhism acknowledged that there were two paths to enlightenment. One path was that taught in the sutras according to the historical teachings. The heart of sutra practice was based on morality, concentration, and wisdom. The other path, which has become the cornerstone of Tibetan variations, was tantric. This practice blended the sutra teachings with techniques adapted from Hindu systems of yoga and tantra.