Choying Drolma - Silence for Compassion

Ani Choying Drolma, with her music widely circulated on the internet, is an extremely familiar source of nourishment in the spiritual "menu" of the "healing" community around the world as well as in Vietnam. She is not only a globally famous "Buddhist music-singing nun" but also a humanitarian activist honored at home and abroad in her role as the first National Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF in her home country of Nepal for two consecutive terms, since 2014.

PHOTO: NVCC

On September 6 and 7 in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnamese public will experience for the first time this voice filled with compassionate and healing energy in a live concert called Sound Healing Concert 2025: Journey Into Silence . The four main artists in the concert include: Ani Choying Drolma, Santa Ratna Shakya (a world-famous Nepalese craftsman who makes swinging bells), musician Ngo Hong Quang and saxophone artist Tran Manh Tuan.

Music from compassion

The famous Zen singer shared with Thanh Nien about the meeting point between music and her monastic journey: "Since I was little, I have always loved singing. When I entered the monastery, I realized that in the rituals and prayers, music and melody were always present. I learned how 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 singing in the monastery and came up with the idea of combining my voice with modern instruments. He proposed to make a joint album, and miraculously, the album became a huge success all over the world. From there, my musical journey was opened...".

And that is music with a mission of its own: music that heals. "Modern society often makes us 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 mind become calm, returning to its natural state, can touch everyone's heart," said Ani Choying Drolma.

Another definition of music from a nun who sees it as a means to convey wishes and bring healing energy: "It is one of the most beautiful tools, because it has the ability to calm the restless mind. Therefore, enlightened beings always use music and melody 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."

Stillness in awareness

Journey Into Silence - A journey back to silence, but for Ani Choying Drolma, "silence is not necessarily the absence of sound". It can also be freedom from the pollution of the mind, from the vortex of false, illusory thoughts that we often get stuck in modern life - in the name of "progress".

“Progress is good. Critical thinking is good – but only when it is driven by the right motivation and sincere desire. Otherwise, we can easily get caught up in a train of thought that makes us believe that happiness depends entirely on external things. That makes our minds noisy,” she explains.

"So achieving silence from the 'inner noise' is very important. My music is about that. When I sing, I feel a deep silence - but a silence in awareness," the world's leading meditation singer shared.

PHOTO: NVCC

To the question: How to maintain inner peace, amidst a life filled with more and more noise that causes distraction and dispersion? What therapy can help transform anger and hurt into the positive energy of sympathy 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 awareness and belief: I wish for happiness, and so do you."

She added: "I think there is nothing wrong with thinking about yourself, but it should be understood as 'smart selfishness'. If you truly love yourself properly, you will learn how to be kind - to yourself and to others. Uncertainty and impermanence are actually the greatest teachers. It helps us become kinder, because when we know that life is finite, we will not waste time on meaningless things - like arguing, judging, being angry, or being indifferent to others...".

The Zen singer also unexpectedly mentioned ChatGPT and AI in his message to young readers of Thanh Nien Newspaper: "In today's modern society, there are many delusions - especially among those who think they are very "modern". I strongly advise everyone - especially young people - to practice meditation. You are very smart, very quick, but modern life has too many things that distract you. Therefore, learn what meditation is, and what it can bring to 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".