With the brutal suppression of Tibet by the Chinese government, in 1959, Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Gyuto Tantric University joined the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, in fleeing their homeland and setting up a government-in-exile in northern India. In 1988, twenty one monks traveled to the United States and used their unique multi-tonal chanting to bring attention to their plight.