Tibet is a collectivistic society . The Buddhist temples are designed so that the general population can support those who have been reborn closer to Nirvana and wish to concentrate on the eventual attainment of enlightenment. They are fed and housed through the support of the community. Although Buddhism is mainly a belief system, it is also a practice, or way of life. By allowing themselves to be overtaken by the Chinese they have endangered their right to free worship.
Temples are a necessary part of their culture.
Additionally, statues of Buddha are very important for individual worship and family shrines. This inspires him to work towards cultivating these qualities in himself. The most sacred tangible value of the Tibetan Buddhists is the image of Buddha. Without the inspiration of this physical representation, spiritual enlightenment is more difficult to attain, and Buddhism is difficult to practice. The culture of the Tibetan Buddhists has been shaped physically by their isolation from other societies, and spiritually by Buddhism, one of the few doctrines to penetrate the border and be accepted.