The young monk has been practicing as a chela to his guru for five years.

chela 源自梵语，在印度教和佛教传统中指"弟子"或"门徒"，特指跟随精神导师(guru)学习修行的学生。这个词带有宗教修行关系的特殊含义，强调师徒之间的精神传承关系。