Teenage Buddhist Lama Celebrates Last Birthday in US Before Joining Himalayan Monastery

Isanti (US): youthful Buddhist lama sat on a throne near an altar decorated with flowers, fruits and golden statues of Buddha, watching celebrations of his 18th birthday in silence, with a faint smile.

Teenage Lama Celebrates Last Birthday

Jalue Dorje knew it would be last big party before he joins a monastery in Himalayan foothills -- thousands of miles from his home in a Minneapolis suburb, where he grew up like a typical American teen playing football and listening to rap music.

But this was not an ordinary coming-of-age celebration. It was an enthronement ceremony for an aspiring spiritual leer who from an early age was recognised by Dalai Lama and or Tibetan Buddhist leers as a reincarnated lama.

From stage, he saw it all: young women in white long bearded masks who danced, jumping acrobatically and twirling colourful sticks to wish him luck in a trition reserved for dignitaries. banging of drums. procession of hundreds – from children to elderly -- who lined up to bow to him and present him with a “khata” -- white Tibetan ceremonial scarves that symbolise auspiciousness.

From a throne reserved for lamas, he smelled aroma of Tibetan dishes prepared by his mor over sleepless nights. He heard monks with shaved hes, in maroon and gold robes like his own, chant sacred mantras. Behind m, his shaggy-haired high school football teammates sang “Happy Birthday” before he cut first slice of cake.

One of his buddies gave him shaker bottles for hydrating during training at gym; anor, a gift card to eat at Chipotle Mexican Grill.

“I was in awe!” Dorje recalled later. “Usually, I'd be at monk section looking up to whomever was celebrating. But that night it was for me.” Watching Monday Night Football and memorising ancient Buddhist prayers Since Dalai Lama's recognition, Dorje has spent much of his life training to become a monk, memorising sacred scriptures, practising calligraphy and learning teachings of Buddha.

After gruation in 2025, he'll he to norrn India to join Mindrolling Monastery, more than 7,200 miles (11,500 km) from his home in Columbia Heights.

Following several years of contemplation and ascetism, he hopes to return to America to teach in Minnesota Buddhist community. His goal is “to become a leer of peace,” following example of Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.

“re's going to be a lot of sacrifice involved,” Dorje said. But he's not new to sacrifices.

He remembered all early mornings reciting ancient prayers and memorising Buddhist scriptures, often rewarded by his d with Pokémon cards.

“As a child, even on weekend, you're like: Why don't I get to sleep more? Why can't I get up and watch cartoons like or kids.' But my d always told me that it's like planting a seed,” he said, “and one day it's going to sprout.” It all began with process of identifying a lama, which is based on spiritual signs and visions. Dorje was about 4 months old when he was identified by Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, a venerated master of Tibetan Buddhism and leer of Nyingma lineage. He was later confirmed by several lamas as eighth Terchen Taksham Rinpoche — first one was born in 1655.

After Dalai Lama recognised him at age 2, Dorje's parents took him to meet spiritual leer of Tibetan Buddhism when he visited Wisconsin in 2010.

Dalai Lama cut a lock of Dorje's hair in a ceremony and vised his parents to let ir son stay in US to perfect his English before sending him to a monastery.

Dorje is fluent in English and Tibetan. He grew up reing manga graphic novel series "Buddha”, and is an avid sports fan. He roots for Timberwolves in basketball, Real Mrid in soccer, and Atlanta Falcons in football. He even keeps a rookie card of wide receiver Drake Londo pasted to back of his phone, which he carried wrapped in his robes during his party.

On football field, playing as a left guard, his teammates praised his positivity, often reminding m to have fun and keep losses in perspective.

“It's someone to look up to,” said Griffin Hogg, 20, a former player who took Dorje under his wing. He said y learned from each or and credits Dorje with helping him find his spirituality. “I'm more of a relaxed person after getting to know him and understanding his own journey.” While Dorje tries to never miss Monday Night Football, he's always re to help with any event hosted by local Tibetan community, one of largest in US.

“He has one foot in normal high school life. And he has one foot in this amazing Tibetan culture that we have in state of Minnesota,” said Kate Thomas, one of his tutors and teachings coordinator at Minneapolis' Bodhicitta Sangha Heart of Enlightenment Institute.

“You can see that he's comfortable playing a role of sitting on a throne, of participating and being honoured as a respected person in his community, as a religious figure. And yet, as soon as he has opportunity, he wants to go and hang out with his high school buddies,” she said. “That's testimony to his flexibility, his openness of mind.” Listening to rap and making Tibetans proud For years, he has followed same routine. He wakes up to recite sacred texts and n attends school, followed by football practice. He returns home for tutoring about Tibetan history and Buddhism. n he might practice calligraphy or run on a tremill while listening to BossMan Dlow, Rod Wave and or rappers.

Although he was officially enthroned in 2019 in India, an estimated 1,000 people gared at Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota for his recent ceremony.

“He unites us – Jalue is always here for us,” said Zenden Ugen, 21, a family friend and neighbor who performed Tibetan dances at event.

“I wish him best in life because being born and not being able to choose your life must be very hard,” Ugen said. “But he has a responsibility and him being able to take on that responsibility, I'm very inspired by him. I just hope he keeps being who he is.” Dorje's proud uncle, Tashi Lama, saw him grow up and become a Buddhist master.

“He's somebody who's going to be a leer, who's going to teach compassion and peace and love and harmony among living beings,” he said about his nephew, often referred to as “Rinpoche” -- a Tibetan word that means “precious one”.