Nawang Khechog is one of Tibet’s foremost world music composers and a Grammy-nominated musician. As one of the first Tibetan musicians to break into the international world music scene with his original and authentic musical compositions, he has collaborated with Philip Glass, Kitaro, R. Carlos Nakai, Natalie Merchant, David Bowie, Paul Winter, Trey Anastasio, and others.
Khechog aims to utilize his music to inspire non-violence, compassion, spirituality, and the freedom of the Tibetan people, and he has performed at Tibetan Freedom Concerts and various peace events throughout the world. He wrote and performed the music for the 1999 performance piece “The Road Home: Stories of Children of War,” directed by Lawrence Sacharow, as well as a portion of the soundtrack for the motion picture Seven Years in Tibet, directed by Jean Jacques Annaud and starring Brad Pitt.
A monk for 11 years, Khechog studied Buddhist philosophy and meditation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and many other Tibetan masters. He also lived as a hermit, meditating in the Himalayan foothills for several years under the guidance of the Dalai Lama.
Having spent more than 30 years in India as a Tibetan refugee, the author of Awakening Kindness now lives in Colorado and continues sharing the value of universal kindness and compassion in workshops and concerts across the country.
What Others Are Saying About Nawang Khechog & Awakening Kindness
"In this book, Nawang Khechog explains the need for kindness in our lives and ways people can use to develop it. I commend him for his efforts to awaken others to the understanding that, as a source of lasting happiness and joy, kindness and compassion are among the principle things that make our lives meaningful."
—His Holiness the Dalai Lama
"Nawang Khechog is a dedicated student of the Dalai Lama, and I have worked with him several times through the Peace Jam program as he has shared his philosophy of kindness with the youth of the world. I hope and pray that this book will benefit many people by helping to inspire kindness and compassion in their hearts . We need more books like this today!"
—Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1984 Noble Peace Laureate
"Nawang Khechog...is a deeply spiritual player upon the magic flute of love and compassion in action."
—Robert Thurman, author of Why the Dalai Lama Matters and cofounder of Tibet House