So Close to Heaven: The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas

Barbara Crossette documents the history and future of Buddhist countries of the Himalayas, their culture, and their politics. The only surviving Buddhist country is Bhutan; the others--Tibet, Ladakh, and Sikkim--have been absorbed by China and India. Bhutan itself is in danger of collapse under the hulking shadows of China and India, as well as from the pressures of mass media and modern technology, and the droves of immigrants who surge across its borders in search of free schooling, health care, and abundant land. However, it has pursued a policy of controlled modernization in a concerted effort to preserve Buddhist traditions.