Ani Chhoying Dolma

Ani Chhoying Drolma is an internationally acclaimed Buddhist nun and musician from Nepal, widely known as the "Singing Nun." Born on June 4, 1971, in Kathmandu to Tibetan refugee parents, she entered the Nagi Gompa nunnery at the age of 13 to escape a difficult domestic life. Under the guidance of her guru, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, she was trained in Buddhist chant and ritual music. Her journey into the global spotlight began in the late 1990s after American guitarist Steve Tibbetts heard her singing at the monastery and recorded her, leading to the release of their collaborative album Cho in 1997.

Her music is characterized by the hauntingly beautiful fusion of ancient Tibetan Buddhist chants and hymns with modern, soulful melodies. She is best known for the iconic song "Phoolko Aankhama," which promotes a philosophy of purity and compassion—seeing the world as a flower through eyes that are themselves like flowers. Beyond her musical career, Ani Chhoying is a dedicated humanitarian and the founder of the Nuns' Welfare Foundation of Nepal. Through her music's proceeds, she established the Arya Tara School, which provides both traditional and modern education to young nuns, and founded the Aarogya Foundation, which provides affordable kidney dialysis and health services to the underprivileged in Nepal.