The Gelug lineage, a major school of Tibetan Buddhism, emphasizes a rigorous academic curriculum that leads to the attainment of high degrees such as the Geshe. These degrees are awarded after years of study and debate, focusing on the "Five Major Treatises" which includes: the Prajnaparamita (Wisdom perfection), Madhyamika (Middle way philosophy), Pramana (Valid cognition), Abhidharma (Phenomenology), and Vinaya (Monastic disciplines). The study of these texts is conducted over a period of fifteen (15) years using Gelukpa commentaries, many of which are unique to each monastic college.

Upon completion of their studies, monks can earn one of the three Geshe-La Degrees: Dorampa, Tsogrampa, and Lharampa (highest). The process involves a comprehensive examination where students are evaluated by the abbot of the particular college, and the topics for their dialectical examination are selected on the spot, ensuring a real test of their abilities and depth of study.

The Gelug school also has a tradition of conferring the Geshe-Ma degree to women, which is equivalent to the Geshe degree. The first Geshe-ma degree was conferred to a German nun, Kelsang Wangmo, in 2011. In 2016, twenty Tibetan Buddhist nuns became the first Tibetan women to earn Geshe-ma degrees.

This lineage derives from Shakayaminu Buddha, who was born in Lumbini, Kapilavastu Kingdom, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, in modern-day southern Nepal.

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The practice of Buddhism, lost influence in India, around the 7th century AD, after the collapse of the Gupta Empire. The last large empire to support Buddhism was the Pala Empire that fell in the 12th century. By the end of the 12th century and after the invasions by the Turkic Muslims, Buddhism had largely disappeared from India with the exception of western and central Tibet, Mongolia, and isolated remnants in parts of south India. Nalanda University was established and existed during the Gupta Empire.

Buddhism in Bhutan has its origins in the Indian subcontinent and was introduced to the region in the mid-7th century AD. The Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, a Buddhist convert, extended the Tibetan Empire into Sikkim and Bhutan, and he ordered the construction of two Buddhist temples, Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang and Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro Valley. The Buddhism practiced in Bhutan originated in Tibetan Buddhism, but has developed its own distinct characteristics in terms of rituals, liturgy, and monastic organization. The Drukpa subsect of the Kargyupa school is the predominant tradition in Bhutan, and it is closely associated with the country's cultural and religious identity.

The 7th century AD was a pivotal era that marked Islam's emergence and sweeping changes across Asia, Europe, and North Africa. In 622, the Prophet Muhammad united the Arabian Peninsula, establishing a foundation for the Islamic faith and setting in motion a transformative period of religious, cultural, and territorial expansion. The introduction of Buddhism to Tibet was a complex process that involved interactions with the native shamanistic Bön religion, which had the support of the aristocracy. Despite this opposition, Buddhism thrived under royal patronage, reaching a peak under King Rälpachän (r. 817–836). The process of translating Buddhist texts into Tibetan began during this period, and it continued until disrupted in the mid-9th century by the collapse of the Tibetan empire.

During the 11th century, Buddhism experienced a revival in Tibet, and various schools of Tibetan Buddhism emerged. The Gelugpa school, founded by Je Tsongkhapa, rose to prominence under the 5th Dalai Lama.