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US-born teen gamer lama Jalue Dorje trains in India after Dalai Lama recognition
International
Published on 15 May 2026
His Crocs stay on even under maroon robes
In the Himalayan foothills, Jalue Dorje—an American teen once pulling all-nighters on Madden NFL—now performs Tibetan Buddhist blessings at monasteries in India and Nepal. Recognized as a reincarnated lama after signs and confirmations, the 19-year-old trains at Mindrolling Monastery and recently met his parents in Kathmandu to attend rituals at Shechen Monastery. Even as monastic robes replace hoodies, Dorje keeps a pop-culture streak, quoting Drake and wearing Crocs decorated with playful charms.
- Jalue Dorje, now 19, moved from Minneapolis-area Columbia Heights to Mindrolling Monastery in India
- He was identified and confirmed as a reincarnated lama beginning in early childhood
- The Dalai Lama recognized him in a ceremony in 2010, cutting a lock of his hair
- Dorje trained through memorization, scriptures, and calligraphy before monastic work
- During rituals, he performs blessings including sprinkling holy water for protection and purification
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times