Bhutan is a Buddhist country and practices Vajrayana Buddhism. Buddhism was first introduced by the Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century. Until then the people practiced Bonism which has its origins in ancient shamanistic rituals and beliefs that worshipped all forms of nature, Echoes of Bonism are still evident today in some remote villages in the country. With the advent of Guru Padmasambhava, Buddhism began to flourish in Bhutan and forms the basis of Bhutanese life.