Choying Drolma - Stillness for Compassion

"My music stems from meditation, from inner peace, and then compassion naturally radiates. I believe that it is this energy that allows my music to transcend all language barriers...", Ani Choying Drolma, the world's leading meditative singer, said in an exclusive interview with Thanh Nien Newspaper ahead of her first tour in Vietnam.

Báo Thanh niên•11/08/2025

Ani Choying Drolma, with her widely circulated Buddhist music on the internet, is a familiar and nourishing source of spiritual nourishment for the healing community worldwide , including in Vietnam. She is not only a globally renowned Buddhist nun who sings Buddhist music, but also a recognized humanitarian, honored both domestically and internationally as the first UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador to her native Nepal for two consecutive terms, starting in 2014.

On September 6th and 7th in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnamese public will have the opportunity to experience this powerful, compassionate, and healing voice for the first time in a live concert titled Sound Healing Concert 2025: Journey Into Silence . The four main artists in the concert are: Ani Choying Drolma, Santa Ratna Shakya (a world-renowned Nepalese artisan who makes singing bowls), musician Ngo Hong Quang, and saxophone artist Tran Manh Tuan.

Music born of compassion

The renowned meditating singer shared with Thanh Nien newspaper about the connection between music and her spiritual journey: "Since childhood, I have always loved singing. When I entered the monastery, I realized that music and melodies are always present in rituals and scriptures. I learned to use different musical instruments and was always excited to learn ancient melodies. Later, I was assigned the role of Umze - the master of ceremonies in the monastery. One day, an American musician happened to hear me sing in the monastery and came up with the idea of combining my voice with modern instruments. He suggested making a joint album, and miraculously, that album was a resounding success worldwide. From there, my musical journey began..."

And that's music with a mission of its own: healing music. "Modern society often leads us to believe that happiness comes from external factors. But the Buddha taught that true happiness comes from within. At the deepest level, anything that helps our minds become calm, returning to their natural state, can touch the heart of every person," says Ani Choying Drolma.

Another definition of music comes from the nun, who views it as a means of conveying aspirations and bringing healing energy: "It is one of the most beautiful tools, because it has the ability to soothe an anxious mind. Therefore, enlightened beings always use music and melodies in rituals, meditation, and chanting. We believe that when the Buddha preached, his voice was full of compassion and melodious like music. That is what I believe and practice."

Silence in mindfulness

Journey Into Silence – A journey back to stillness, but for Ani Choying Drolma, "silence doesn't necessarily mean the absence of sound." It can also be freedom from mental pollution, from the vicious cycle of misguided thoughts and illusions that we often get caught in during modern life – under the guise of "progress."

She analyzed: "Progress is good. Critical thinking is good – but only when it is guided by the right motivation and genuine desire. Otherwise, we can easily be swept away by thoughts that make us believe happiness depends entirely on external things. That makes our minds noisy."

"Therefore, achieving stillness from 'inner noise' is incredibly important. My music is geared towards that. When I sing, I feel a profound stillness – but it's a stillness of awareness," the world's leading meditative singer shared.

- Ảnh 2. — Poster for *Sound Healing Concert 2025: Journey Into Silence*

To the question: How can we maintain inner peace amidst a life increasingly filled with distracting noise? What therapy can help transform anger and hurt into the positive energy of empathy and compassion? Ani Choying Drolma's answer is: "Transformation can only happen when we learn to live more kindly. And kindness can only grow when you diligently use simple reason regularly with mindfulness and the belief that: I desire happiness, and so do you."

She further expressed: "I believe there's nothing wrong with thinking for yourself, but it should be understood as 'intelligent selfishness.' If you truly know how to love yourself properly, you will learn to live kindly – to yourself and to others. Uncertainty and impermanence are actually the greatest teachers. They help us become kinder, because when we know life is finite, we won't waste time on meaningless things – like arguing, judging, anger, or being indifferent to others..."

The meditator also unexpectedly mentioned ChatGPT and AI in his message to young readers of Thanh Nien Newspaper: "In today's modern society, there are many misconceptions - especially among those who think they are very 'modern'. I earnestly advise everyone - especially young people - to practice meditation. You are very intelligent, very quick-witted, but modern life has so many things that distract you. Therefore, learn what meditation is, and what it can bring you. You don't necessarily have to sit next to a teacher to learn - now, even artificial intelligence like ChatGPT can support you. All you need to do is: don't forget your inner value."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/choying-drolma-tinh-lang-de-tu-bi-185250810213332412.htm