There are different facets to the history of Buddhist Tibet. It is said that Tibet was unified in the 7th century, as part of the empire of King Srong Tsen Gampo, which extended from Afghanistan to China. The mighty king demanded wives from Nepal and China. These women brought the art and religion of their Buddhist kingdoms with them, which opened the way for Padmasambhava to bring Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th Century.

Buddhists strive to end suffering by focusing the mind, to enter the Enlightenment of the Buddha. Buddhism, like all religions, has many paths, with different practices and beliefs. Gurus transmit the practices to disciples in a lineage, aiding them in developing the clarity which arises out of meditation. Tibetan practice, with the understanding that one person's liberation is incomplete until all other beings have been liberated, undertakes to end the suffering of all beings. In the word's of the Dalai Lama, "For as long as space endure, And for as long as living beings remain, Until then may I, too, abide, To dispel the misery of the world."

Before the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950, close to 13000 monasteries involved almost the entire Tibetan population in the Buddhist traditions. Art and music played significant roles in this Buddhist way of life, but these practices have faced many difficulties since the mid 20th century, and the Tibetan government lives in exile, in India.

In 1966, Jack Wise received the Canada Council Senior Fellowship for Travel and Study of Tibetan Art in India. He also journeyed to Tibet at that time, and sought to learn the painting of the mandala. At a later time, Jack gained an audience with the Dalai Lama, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism.

Buddhism is a complex and fascinating religion, one that determines everything from food to music in Tibetan culture. Respect for all living things and the discipline devoted to attaining Enlightenment, and helping others to do the same, are the basic principles. Although there is much to be learned about "The Path of the Buddha" in Tibet, one of the most important aspects, today, regards the suppression of Buddhist practice and the systematic abuse of human rights by invaders of that land. The arts of Tibet, including the mandalas that were so significant in the painting of Jack Wise, have been destroyed, and the chants of the monks no longer resonate through the mountains.

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