Tantric Buddhism is predominant in all aspects of Tibetan life and society from art to culture and politics. Due to Tibet’s remote mountainous geography, Tibetan way of life remained distinct and unique from all other cultures. In fact, Tibetan way of life was relatively untouched until the late 20th Century.
In the 1950s with the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the People Liberation Army of China invaded Tibet and installed Chinese authority over Tibetan people. Furthermore, the army desecrated Tibetan temples, monuments, and killed spiritual leaders. Therefore, in 1959 the spiritual leader of Tibet the Dalai Lama exiled to India.Today the religion and culture of Tibet is threatened. And due to the impermanent nature of the sand mandala, a form of visual prayer, it is near extinction as well.