Buddhist Nun Rocks Her Way to Stardom

While everyone knows that the Dalai Llama heads Tibetan Buddhism, fewer people know the equally popular Buddhist singing nun, Ani Choying Drolma. She’s recorded ten albums since 1994 and tours six months a year all over the world.

Drolma grew up in Kathmandu and began singing as a young teenager when a Rinpoche, or Llama, recognized her talent and asked her to sing at Buddhist functions. Today, according to this story from NPR in 2011, “Drolma’s music combines Tibetan melodies with traditional and contemporary instruments, like singing bowls and synthesizers.”

She uses the money she earns from her music to support charities and, notes NPR, “she’s building Nepal’s first kidney hospital and she runs a boarding school for girls” through her own foundation called The Ani Foundation.

You can listen to some of her songs here at Itunes.  And below you can listen to this excellent 2011 NPR story about Drolma.