What is a tulpa?

A tulpa is a concept, primarily within some esoteric and internet subcultures, referring to a thoughtform or a being created in the mind. It is often described as a sentient and autonomous mental entity that can, with practice, develop its own personality, thoughts, and even potentially influence the host's thoughts and actions.

Key aspects of understanding tulpas include:

• Creation: The process by which a tulpa is brought into existence, often involving visualization, focus, and repetition.
• Sentience: The degree to which the tulpa possesses its own consciousness and awareness.
• Autonomy: The tulpa's ability to think and act independently of its host.
• Communication: How the host and tulpa interact and share information. This can range from simple thoughts and feelings to complex conversations and shared sensory experiences.
• Form: The mental representation or image the host associates with the tulpa, which can evolve over time.
• Imposition: The ability to perceive the tulpa through one's physical senses, making them appear to be physically present.

It's important to note that the experience and understanding of tulpas varies greatly and is largely subjective. The concept is controversial, and scientific evidence supporting the existence of tulpas as independent entities is lacking. Most perspectives fall under the umbrella of psychological phenomena and mental exercises.