（原标题：Ancient Gurlu: A Rinpoche's Reimagining）
Balok Tenzin Dorje, a recognized tulku and a regional intangible cultural heritage inheritor, is dedicated to carrying forward Milarepa Gurlu, a precious Tibetan Buddhist art placed on China's national intangible heritage list in 2021.
Born and raised in Norbulingka - known as Lhasa's Summer Palace - he was identified at age 8 as the reincarnation of a tulku from Yangrigar Monastery in Maldrogungkar county of Lhasa.
Unlike traditional monastic practitioners, he has long pursued diverse studies including standard Chinese, English, Thangka painting and music.
Inspired by his childhood experience of chanting scriptures alongside the monks at Drikung Thil Monastery, Balok Rinpoche formed the band Dharma in 2013. Its members include guitarists, a drummer and a keyboard player, and they come from multi-ethnic backgrounds, including Mongolian, Tibetan and Han.
Blending modern musical elements with traditional religious chanting, the group aims to draw younger audiences to inherit the teachings of Milarepa. The band has staged performances nationwide over the past decade.
In Tibetan, the word "Gur-lu" means spiritual songs (Gur) and (lu) means popular folk songs.
Balok Rinpoche said that Gurlu, created by the 11th-century master Milarepa, embodies the essence of Kagyu lineage. Compiled into The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, it has been translated into at least 12 languages worldwide.
Balok Rinpoche is recognized as the 42nd generation of the Milarepa Gurlu inheritor. He has been a regional intangible culture inheritor of Milarepa Gurlu since 2014.
Since Xizang Buddhism University was founded in 2011, he has been working as a teacher there, teaching Buddhist texts and culture for monks and nuns.
