Sounds of Liberation

Benefit Concert

Krishna Das

Lama Tenzin Sangpo Vocal

Ani Choying Drolma Vocal

John McDowell Musical Director

Steve Gorn Bansuri Flute

Shyam Nepali Sarangi

“This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to raise funds for an institution that’s helping so many people,” Krishna Das commented. “It’s also an opportunity to make a statement about how all the different spiritual paths are related and blend into each other.”

The devastating Nepal earthquake of 2015 claimed the lives of some 9,000 people, laying waste to the entire region. Among the damaged sacred sites was the White Monastery, founded in the 1970s by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

A longtime student of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Krishna Das organized the first SOUNDS OF LIBERATION concert in New York in 2015, together with Lama Tenzin Sangpo. A jubilant audience joined Krishna Das and Lama Tenzin to hear and chant exquisitely beautiful kirtans and mantras.

That concert started a yearly tradition of benefit concerts, where Krishna Das and Lama Tenzin were also joined by mantra music luminaries Ani Choying Drolma and Nepali bansuri flutist Manose, with hosting appearances by Richard Gere and Lama Surya Das.

Many monks, nuns and other community members still lack safe living quarters and facilities, and the population of the monastery and nunnery has nearly doubled since the 2015 earthquake. This year’s concert will help finance the much-needed expansion of monks’ quarters, the reconstruction of the main temple at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, and the rebuilding of the three-year nun’s retreat at Nagi Gompa.

This year Krishna Das and Lama Tenzin are joined again by Ani Choying, a Buddhist nun with 16 albums to her credit. Ani Choying has deep ties to the area around the White Monastery. The monastery’s founder, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, was her root teacher when she first became a nun, and now she is a student of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. She describes Lama Tenzin as “a Dharma brother I’ve known since my first day of monastic life.”

SOUNDS OF LIBERATION – NYC and Boston 2019 will be a gathering of great souls in service of a great cause. Acclaimed composer (“Born into Brothels”) John McDowell will play keyboards and serve as musical director.

“Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche is a great bodhisattva and an extraordinary teacher,” said Krishna Das. “He’s really helping people. But now he needs our help. Won’t you come and join us on this mission of compassion?”

NOTE: Tickets are available for both concerts that include a pre-concert reception with the artists.