The Nyingma lineage, particularly the Dzogchen tradition, traces its origins to Buddha Samantabhadra and was passed down to Garab Dorje. It continued through great Mahasiddhas such as Shri Singha, Jñanasutra, and Vimalamitra. Buddhism spread to Tibet and the Himalayan region in the 8th century when King Trisong Deutsen invited Bodhisattva Shantarakshita and Guru Padmasambhava from India to teach the Dharma. Under their guidance, a group of translators, including Vairotsana, translated the sacred texts into Tibetan, forming the foundation of the Nyingma tradition. Later, three other major Tibetan Buddhist schools—Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug—emerged from new translations and became known as the Sarma traditions.
The Nyingma tradition outlines nine Yanas (vehicles) of practice:
- Śrāvaka Yana
- Pratyekabuddha Yana
- Mahayana
- Kriya Tantra Yana
- Charya Tantra Yana
- Yoga Tantra Yana
- Maha Yoga Yana
- Anu Yoga Yana
- Ati Yoga Yana