King Trisong Detsen [755–797] wanted to permanently establish Buddhism in Tibet. The Indian scholar Shantarakshita had already come to Tibet and had begun construction of the Samye Monastery, Tibet’s first major Buddhist monastery.
According to tradition, however, massive obstacles arose: illnesses, storms, and above all, local Tibetan deities and spirits are said to have repeatedly prevented the construction. According to Tibetan tradition, he invited Padmasambhava from India to Tibet to overcome these difficulties in introducing Buddhism.
Padmasambhava is said to have used his tantric powers to overcome the obstacles and hostile forces that were hindering the construction of a Buddhist monastery.