A tulpa is generally defined as a consciously created mental construct or thoughtform that, through sustained attention and imaginative focus, is believed to develop independent thoughts, behaviors, or a sense of agency separate from its creator. The concept has deep roots in Tibetan Buddhism, where the term is linked to the idea of sprul-pa, meaning an emanation or manifestation created through spiritual or meditative practice. In traditional Tibetan accounts, highly trained practitioners were said to generate such forms as extensions of their mind, sometimes as companions or assistants, other times as embodiments of particular teachings or qualities, though these were viewed within a religious and philosophical framework rather than as literal beings.

The idea entered Western awareness largely through the writings of 19th– and early 20th–century travelers and theosophists. One of the most influential voices was Alexandra David-Néel, a Belgian-French explorer who wrote about witnessing and even creating a tulpa during her time in Tibet; her descriptions helped popularize the notion in the occult and spiritualist circles of Europe. As the idea spread through Western esotericism, it gradually shifted from a mystical practice requiring rigorous discipline to a more loosely interpreted concept involving visualization and willpower.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, tulpas resurfaced in modern internet culture, particularly within online communities interested in consciousness, meditation, and imaginative practice. Here, the definition evolved again: rather than magical manifestations, tulpas are often described as psychologically independent minds living within the same brain as their host, developed through intentional focus and interaction. This contemporary interpretation emphasizes subjective experience rather than external manifestation, blending aspects of inner dialogue, imaginative engagement, and cognitive science. While scientific consensus does not affirm tulpas as separate entities, ongoing discussion explores them in relation to dissociation, creativity, and the plasticity of consciousness.

The concept of the tulpa is similar to that of ''imaginary friends'' (companions created through imagination) and the ''egregore'', a being originating in 19th century occultism, but made out of the beliefs of a group of people rather than a single individual.

All published appearances of tulpa from before January 1, )-(95)}} are public domain in the US.

Some notable appearances include:

* Mystiques et Magiciens du Tibet (1929)

* Colossus Comics #1

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulpa Wikipedia]
* [https://comicvine.gamespot.com/search/?header=1&q=Tulpa ComicVine]
* [https://comicbookplus.com/search/?q=Tulpa#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=Tulpa&gsc.page=1 Comic Book Plus]
* [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Tulpa TV Tropes]
* [https://myths-in-media.fandom.com/wiki/Tulpa Myths in Media Wiki]
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