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Meet Leya Bogomolova—a unique creative force and the voice of modern Buddhist mantras.
With over 20 years of deep spiritual practice, Leya translates ancient wisdom into contemporary soundscapes. We sat down to discuss her journey from silence to the stage, the alchemy of sound healing, and why she decided not to wait for her "next life" to follow her dreams.
Part 1. The Awakening
"I am living my next life right now."
Q: What inspired you to turn to Buddhist practices over 20 years ago?
It began with a simple desire: to improve my life, overcome inner fears, and find answers. At that time, spiritual practices weren't a trend, but my intuition led me to the right schools immediately.
Through Buddhism, I didn't just find answers—I found tools. These practices helped me build a happy marriage, raise two wonderful sons, and expand my spiritual world while grounding my material reality in abundance.
Q: You’ve mentioned you wanted to be a singer in your "next life." What changed?
I genuinely believed that singing was reserved for a future incarnation. But then I realized: I can bring that experience into this reality. I came for the freedom of sound. Now, I am living my "next life" today.
Part 2. The Alchemy of Sound
More than music—a transmission of energy.
Q: How was your mantra album born?
It started as a challenge to myself. I approached my vocal coach with a bold idea: to record an album of Buddhist mantras.
We started with the Vajrasattva Mantra—the most powerful mantra for purification in Buddhism. I was nervous to share it, but the response was overwhelming. People wrote, "Leya, this is healing," and "I’ve never listened to mantras before, but this resonates."
Q: What makes these recordings unique?
Each track is a ritual. Before recording, I perform a Lung transmission (a traditional energy transfer), drawing on my initiation as a MenCho Reiki Master and blessings from Rinpoches in Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan.
I explain the deep meaning of each syllable to the musicians. So, when you listen, you aren't just hearing music; you are receiving the energy of the Buddhas.
"My creativity heals at the Soul level. It connects you to your own Buddha-nature."
Part 3. Roots & Wings
A child of the backstage.
Q: Tell us about your roots.
I was born in the ancient town of Galich. I grew up in a creative family—my father was a musician and culture director, my mother a choreographer. I was a "child of the backstage," constantly surrounded by artists. Art is my oxygen.
Later, photography became my medium for 10 years, with international exhibitions and awards. But now, sound is my primary language.
Q: How do you balance this spiritual depth with family life?
It’s a dance. My husband, Vitaly Kuzmenko, is also a Buddhist teacher, and we often perform together. Even our children joined in recording the Chenrezig Mantra (Mantra of Compassion).
My priority is clear: become well-known not for fame’s sake, but to do more good and help more people.
Part 4. The Blitz (Короткие вопросы)
Inside Leya’s Mind.
- True Values: Family, spiritual practice, self-realization.
- Favorite Sound: Birds singing.
- Favorite Word: "Precious" (Dragotsennye).
- Superpower: Inspiring others and adapting to change.
- Philosophy: "I create my reality with my thoughts. I tend to the garden of my life, weeding out the negative and watering the flowers."
Leya’s message to the readers: