MINNESOTA TEEN FOOTBALLER SET TO TRADE TOUCHDOWNS FOR TEMPLE LIFE AS HIMALAYAN LAMA

Jalue Dorje, a typical high school football player from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, is about to embark on an extraordinary journey that sets him apart from every other teen in America. Recognized as the 8th reincarnation of the revered Buddhist lama Terchen Taksham Rinpoche, Jalue’s life has been a unique blend of suburban normalcy and profound spiritual destiny.

At just four months old, Tibetan Buddhist leaders identified Jalue as a reincarnated lama, a role that comes with centuries of spiritual significance. While most kids were learning ABCs, Jalue was learning mantras. But that didn’t stop him from embracing the everyday joys of growing up in the U.S.—playing football, trading Pokémon cards, and jamming to rap music.

Jalue has also contributed in Sports Media through The Heights Herald.

On the last of two episodes of the Heights Herald’s abbreviated season of the teenVoice podcast for the 2023-24 school year, Staff Writer Khoi Le and Sports Editor Jalue Dorjee go deep on a topic everyone can relate to — not just teens. The two Columbia Heights High School (CHHS) juniors analyze what it means to be best friends, what they’ve done to maintain their strong friendship over the past several years, how their relationship has evolved as well as ebbed and flowed, and what their favorite memories of spending time together are. They also talk to another notable duo in the CHHS student body to see what different best friend pairs look like as well as what they have in common. Take a listen and see how you and your ride-or-die relate!

teenVoice Episode 7: Best Friends

Now 18, Jalue is preparing to leave his cleats and childhood behind to fulfill his spiritual calling. He’ll soon join a monastery in the Himalayan foothills, where a life of meditation, prayer, and Buddhist teachings awaits him. His parents, who have supported his dual identity as both a typical American teen and a spiritual leader, describe the transition as bittersweet.

“It’s been an honor to watch him grow up here,”

says his father. “But we’ve always known this day would come.”

The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Social media, where Jalue’s story has gone viral, is divided. While many admire his unique path, others criticize the pressure of placing such a spiritual mantle on a child from infancy.

Despite the noise, Jalue remains focused and serene. “I’ll miss my friends, my school, and football,” he says. “But this is who I am, and it’s what I was born to do.”

In a few weeks, the halls of Columbia Heights High School will be a distant memory, replaced by the chants and quiet rhythms of a Himalayan monastery. For Jalue Dorje, this is just the beginning of a journey that bridges two worlds in a way few have ever experienced.