A young man from a Minneapolis suburb who grew up enjoying rap music, video games and football is now thousands of miles from home, pursuing his destiny as a Buddhist monk in the mountains of northern India.
Jalue Dorje has dedicated much of his life to monastic preparation, studying sacred texts, practicing calligraphy and absorbing Buddhist teachings, after being identified as a reincarnated lama by the Dalai Lama and other prominent Tibetan Buddhist figures.
Following his high school graduation last year, Dorje relocated to a monastery situated in the Himalayan foothills, far from his Minnesota home.
After completing what would be equivalent to a college’s first semester, he traveled to Nepal for a reunion with his parents and participated in religious ceremonies and instruction at monasteries throughout the Kathmandu Valley.
The 12-day period of ceremonies and prayers concluded with Dorje and his parents making a spiritual journey to the historic Maratika or Halesi Mahadev Caves in eastern Nepal.
These caves hold religious significance for both Hindu and Buddhist faiths, with visitors traditionally decorating the cave walls using vibrant powders and presenting offerings of fruit and flowers.
After completing several years of meditation and spiritual discipline, Dorje plans to return to the United States to serve Minnesota’s Buddhist community as a teacher. He aspires to become a peaceful leader, drawing inspiration from figures like Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.
