U.S.-born Buddhist lama Jalue Dorje shows his Atlanta Falcons player Drake London rookie card on the back of his phone at his 18th birthday and enthronement ceremony Nov. 9 at the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota in Isanti, Minn.

The young Buddhist lama sat on a throne near an altar decorated with flowers, fruits and golden statues of the Buddha, watching the celebrations of his 18th birthday in silence, with a faint smile. Jalue Dorje knew it would be the last big party before he joins a monastery in the Himalayan foothills -- thousands of miles from his home in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights,

Since the Dalai Lama’s recognition, Jalue Dorje has spent much of his life training to become a monk, memorizing sacred scriptures, practicing calligraphy and learning the teachings of Buddha.

For Jalue Dorje, his 18th birthday party was no ordinary coming-of-age celebration. It was an enthronement ceremony for an aspiring spiritual leader, who from an early age was recognized by

It's the last big party for Jalue Dorje before he joins a monastery in the Himalayan foothills — thousands of kilometers from his home in suburban Minneapolis