The Kalmyks are of Mongolian ethnic origin and originate from North Xinjiang – an area invaded by the Tibetans. As the Tibetans converted to Buddhism – this philosophy was spread through the empire they had carved out for themselves as barbarians. As Lamaism is a corrupt form of feudal (landlord) Buddhism – there is evidence to suggest that various ethnic groups living within Tibetan-controlled territory (which included West China) were ‘forced’ into adopting Buddhism. This is how I suspect the Kalmyk people became ‘Tibetan Buddhist’. Indeed, it is how most Mongolians living in South and West China were originally ‘converted’ to this Indian religion.