Ahead of the Sound Healing Concert 2026, themed “Nhan,” to be held at Ho Guom Opera in Hanoi on Sept. 19, Ani Choying Drolma spoke to the media about the performance and became emotional as she recalled the recent flash floods that claimed lives in her native Nepal.

“I want to share sincerely that my heart has been somewhat heavy in recent days. But this is by no means a negative sadness arising from dissatisfaction, resentment or personal grievance. It is a sadness born of compassion, a deep ache from witnessing so many lives, so many of my fellow Nepalese, lost forever in the recent flash-flood disaster.”

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Nepalese Buddhist nun and spiritual singer Ani Choying Drolma.

When VietNamNet asked whether carrying such heavy emotions would affect her performance of healing music in Hanoi, Ani Choying said:

“According to Buddhist teachings, we understand that life is impermanent and death is something no one can escape. Yet while we are alive, everyone longs to find happiness and peace. No one wants themselves or their loved ones to endure suffering and loss.

“That is why, when we witness others experiencing such painful tragedies, love and the instinct to bring comfort naturally arise within us. My singing has always been part of a journey to guide listeners back toward their inner consciousness. The chants and mantra melodies are not simply music, but a means of carrying prayers to all those who are suffering, helping them regain balance and find healing within.”

For the upcoming concert, she hopes to convey that spirit even more deeply - one of compassion and prayers for everyone.

“Suffering does not end with the victims of the recent natural disaster in Nepal. In reality, each of us carries our own sorrows and wounds in everyday life, wounds that need to be embraced.

“I believe the energy of mantra music at the upcoming concert will touch the audience's hearts in a quieter and deeper way than ever before. Every word and every note I sing will carry my thoughts for the people of Nepal, while also being offered to every soul searching for a place of peace amid life's many upheavals,” she said.

Ani Choying also expressed happiness and deep gratitude for the warm reception she has received from Vietnamese audiences for two consecutive years.

With a touch of humor, she said everything she eats in Vietnam is so delicious that after every visit she worries she will “gain a lot of weight.”

She also reflected on her pilgrimage to Yen Tu, a sacred Buddhist mountain complex in northern Vietnam associated with Tran Nhan Tong, a Vietnamese king who relinquished the throne and became a Buddhist monk.

Ani Choying said she was deeply moved by the way Vietnamese people cherish his legacy.

She was particularly impressed by the combination of tradition and modernity at Yen Tu. The use of modern infrastructure such as cable cars to help visitors reach sacred sites while maintaining their solemn character, she said, demonstrates Vietnam's ability to balance the preservation of its roots with social development.

Ani Choying Drolma

Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1971, Ani Choying Drolma endured a difficult childhood and frequent violence from her father.

At the age of 13, following a traumatic incident, she fled to Nagi Gompa, a Buddhist monastery in the mountains.

There, she became a disciple of meditation master Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Through his patience and wisdom, she learned to transform pain, anger and fear into compassion.

She became a Buddhist nun and took the monastic name Ani Choying Drolma.

Tinh Le