ART AND ENTERTAINMENT

Very few people in this world can effectively tell us the materialistic means for spiritual gratification and Ani Tsering Wangmo is one among them. A singing nun, who sings for a cause is a tagline that best explains the rare combination of a Buddhist nun with a melancholic voice. Today Ani la is an established singer in the Tibetan music industry with five CDs hitting the music-stands and surprisingly the proceeds of the sale is plunged into seeing her philanthropi vision. In a candid interview with the Singing Nun, we had a sneak preview into the soul behind the voice.

Tibetoday: Tell us something about your beginning.
ATW: I was born in Lhasa, Tibet and became a nun at the age of twelve. After fleeing Tibet in 1991 and arriving in Nepal, I had the good fortune to join the Yuloko Jetsun Ling Nunnery in Yanglashöe. Upon completing the traditional three-year retreat in 1996, I began the ongoing Ewam Pecha (religious text) project, collecting and digitizing pechas (Buddhist scriptures) complying with the request of Gochen Tulku Rinpoche. Since then I moved to the United States and studied English. Nowadays, I live at Ewam Sang-Ngag Ling in Montana and continue to help with Rinpoche’s many projects around the globe.
 
Tibetoday: What are the contributing factors that encouraged you to produce chanting albums?
ATW: The primary need to help Gochen Tulku with his projects and to help start a medical clinic and school in Tibet. Also I wanted to help and support my fellow nuns, as I personally know how difficult it can get for them.
 
Tibetoday: How was the audience reaction to the release of your debut chanting album?
A.TW: Basically, I generated the impression that people were very happy, excited and found my music inspiring.
 
Tibetoday: How is Chanting music different from the traditional Buddhist rituals?
ATW: Well I chant the mantras with strong intentions to benefit all the listeners. These days people are very busy and don’t have so much time for formal spiritual practice. So my earnest desire is make the people find peace by listening to these mantras. You can also say that mantras mark the essence of traditional ritual practice.
 
Tibetoday: The commercialization of Tibetan Buddhist chants is a recent fashion. Did it ever occur to you that such innovation could mar the traditional Buddhist norms?
A.T.W: In the light of today’s modern world, this is the most feasible way for the sacred sounds to reach many people. For instance, if people are bathed in the archetypal sound of Chenrezi, in the form of Om mani pemey hung, they receive the particular blessings of Chenrezi. The same can be said for Tara’s mantra. Those sounds powerfully invoke the presence of the deity. So based on the motivation to benefit and help others I don’t see any conflict with traditional Buddhist practices.
 
Tibetoday: Do you have any specific goals to achieve through the production of the Chanting albums?
ATW: I hope that many people will benefit intensely by listening to these sacred sounds; that they can find some peace in the midst of their busy lives. Also my primary goal is to help sponsor hospitals and other humanitarian projects in Tibet.
 
Tibetoday: When did you perform for your first public concert?
ATW: My first concert was in the year 2000 at Missoula, Montana.
 
Tibetoday: Are you involved in other social services?
ATW: Well I am involved in supporting a clinic and school in Tibet, as well as a Nunnery in Nepal.

Tibetoday: How many albums have you produced so far?
ATW: Eight albums
 
Tibetoday: Did it ever daunt you with social pressure for being a rare breed of Tibetan Buddhist nuns?
ATW: No, I never sensed or felt bogged down by any such kind of pressure. My motivation is positive, to help and benefit people.

Tibetoday: So what is your immediate project?
ATW: The project in focus is to support the school in Tibet which is for orphans and under-privileged children.
Two people who have been instrumental in bringing out this album are Nyoo Bajracharya, the producer, and Tenzin Dawa, who oversaw the entire project, and walked every step with me. Nyoo Bajracharya is renowned music personality in Nepal, and has his own award-winning recording studio and a popular music school. Beisdes helping me with recording my albums, he guided me with excellent musical instruction.