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In Memory of Justin Ripley (1975~2011) Part 1/3

1,284 views · Published 31 December 2011 · 29:18 · Indexed 28 September 2026

Channel: Tsem Rinpoche · 2011 · Nonprofits & Activism

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On Friday, 23rd December 2011, I was in my room with Justin Ripley and one or two other people, and we were all having a conversation about work and the different things that we want to do. I even stuck in a short talk about impermanence and how our lives can end, and that we should do the best we can while we can to benefit others. This was specifically in reference to somebody in Justin's life that we were talking about.

We had a wonderful two-hour conversation, and Justin was very happy because his brother Jason, and his mom were going to be arriving in Kuala Lumpur in half a day. We talked and talked about various things, and finally when we finished our conversation, he went downstairs to help with the other Ladrang people to do some work, and I was upstairs doing my other work. Then I had another meeting so I had to talk to another group of people.

About one and a half or two hours later which was around 7pm, suddenly JP ran upstairs and told me that Justin had collapsed, and that he was unconscious. That was when the whole unbelievable event happened. Within two hours of his collapse, he had a cardiac failure and had passed away, and it was just amazing because he was only 37 and I had just talked to him a few hours ago. So that day was an incredible shock for all of us.

While his body was in the hospital and then transferred to the morgue, his mother and brother were on the airplane, just a few hours from landing in Kuala Lumpur. I kept thinking to myself, "You know, this is just so terrible, that this person is waiting for his mom and brother to show up, whom he loves very much, and now his body is in the morgue and he's not going to ever be who we know him as anymore." How to tell his mom?

Shocked, bewildered and at a loss, we still had to carry on to inform the family, carry on with the procedures, and go on with the post-mortem. When they did the post-mortem, it was confirmed that it was a cardiac failure. Apparently, according to Justin's mother, it's quite rampant in the family among the male members.

I'm not going to write a lot here because I have spoken about him at the wake. We had a special wake for Justin in Kechara House, where he had touched so many people's lives -- over 120 people showed up to offer white roses, to share, to talk about how Justin has affected some of their lives. You can see the videos I've included in this post of the memorial at Kechara.

Justin was a student, a friend, a person that never created any type of problems, difficulties or hardship for other people. He wasn't a saint but he definitely was a wonderful person. This blog post and the videos I've included here do not do near any justice to who he was. No type of dedication would be enough to describe Justin. But, this is my blog post in remembrance to him -- a student and a friend. When I first met him like around 8 years ago or moree he was clubbing and doing all the stuff you do at clubs. Through speaking, talking and explaining the Dharma he left behind the club and came into Dharma and did alot of work in the Dharma.

WE MISS YOU, AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU.

I will be erecting a statue, 3 feet or more of Lord Manjushri, to be put in the monastery for you, Justin. It will be dedicated to you for the young monks to worship, and all the merits will go to your future rebirth. On top of that, your ashes will be saved, purified, and kept for Kechara World Peace Centre (KWPC). You will be up there with us, one way or another. I will have your ashed enshrined in the Monastery and up in Kechara World Peace Centre. You said to me a few weeks back that you wanted to be up in KWPC with us and that is where you like to live out your life. Well I am bringing 'you' up there.

I hope to meet you very soon again Justin. Take a good rebirth and come back soon. I am waiting. We are waiting......

Much care and affection,
Tsem Rinpoche

To read more: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/in-memory-of-justin-ripley-1975-2011-2.html

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