A tribute to Jig at Burning Man 2008

I am making this post for Jigme. I went to Burningman this year in the Nevada desert. If you were to look it up you would see it would be something that Jigme would have been very interested in. It is 50,000 like minded people in the desert for 8 days together to celebrate life and at times also death. There is the burning of the man... and also the burning of the temple. The burning of the temple is more significant because people that come to Black Rock City are able to pay tribute to friends and loved ones that they lost in a way they may never have been able to. The temple is a way to leave a message to someone you lost and cared about. When the temple is burned on the 7'th night, all 50,000 people are there and silent... they watch in awe as the temple slowly burns and eventually falls. During this time I was able to think of my friend Jigme and say good bye. I think if jig knew what I did for him it would make him so happy. I drove 5600 miles total and left his name there. I know he will find his way home if he hasn't already. Like I've said before I miss you Jig... Peace my brother...




























































































Picture 1:The man before the burn

Picture 2:The Burning of the man

Picture 3:Me at the temple remembering Jigme and other loved ones that I've lost this year.

Picture 4: Me at the temple, Burningman Black Rock City, Nevada 2008

Picture 5:Words to Jigme that I wrote on the temple that was to be burned

Picture 6:Beautifully made from recycled materials, including a double helix stair case.

Picture 7:The temple burning... 50,000 quiet people watching, grieving, and trying to let go...

Its been two month's today that Jigme left us. I'm finally starting to find the words to express the pain and loss that i have felt. For now I just want to say that Jigme touched my life in many ways and that I will always miss him. I think about you often Jigme... Peace and Love to you brother, I miss you...

Memorial celebration in DeLand, Florida - April 26

On April 26 in the afternoon, we are going to celebrate Jigme’s life with a gathering on Blue Lake in DeLand Florida. It would be wonderful if you could come and share your memories, pictures, music, stories and poems.

It is a very long and expensive way to come for most people. If you won’t be able to join us, please send your pictures, stories, thoughts and memories in text or other media to the contacts below and we’ll make sure it gets read or recited or printed or posted.

If you can come, and we very much hope that you can, let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.

- RSVP -
We appreciate that your travel arrangements may be complicated but please try to RSVP or at least express your intentions to us by March 20th.

For more specifics call or email Urgyan anytime in Beijing at:
+86 1391 051 2146
urgyan.mueller@gmail.com

or Annie anytime
citadcomlc@yahoo.com

and we can send you more information by email.

HK memorial venue confirmed

The venue for the memorial is confirmed as Lotus, 37 to 43 Pottinger Street, Central. Thanks to Jason and Lawrence for helping out with that. Look forward to seeing the HK people tomorrow (Sunday 10th Feb) at 3pm. If anyone needs directions or anything please feel free to give me a call on (852)62331654.

Memorial in HK

Sorry for the short notice! I am planning a small memorial service/get together for all those people in HK who would like to celebrate Jigme`s life. It will take place tomorrow, Sunday the 10th February at 3pm. Unfortunately I have not been able to find a venue yet, though I am still looking. If anyone has any suggestions or can offer a place where a group of people can get together, please let me know. I look forward to seeing those of you who can make it and I will be back in touch when a venue has been found. You can call or text me on (852)62331654.

more from facebook

From Hannah Baynham - I never met Jigme, but i have been hearing about him since i was young. Momo would come back to Woodstock and talk about the "hot brother" I remember MSNing momo years and years ago and her talking about him again. " Yeah so like Urgyans brother looks like josh hartnet." Sitting in my family computer room i saw my first picture of him.. I remember thinking wow, hottie with a Tibetan name. Im sorry all I got to see was a picture. ..

From Andrew Shuen - Jigme served as my vice president in the Student Union.

Smart, articulate and extremely charismatic.

The world already misses you my friend. Your spirit will live on.

From Franklin Yao - Jigme was my best friend in first and second form. I went out to Lamma Island every other weekend and we would discuss science, science fiction, philosophy, and other things that boys that age discussed. He was a great-natured and talented person. He will be missed.

From Chris Forse - I remember Jigme as a free spirit and when in trouble (which he was on numerous occasions!) utterly loyal to his friends.
I am utterly shocked by the news of his passing. He packed a lot into his one score and ten years. My thoughts are with his parents and Urgyan.
Peace!
Chris Forse

From Adam Barty - Still can't believe it at all. I remember him as though it was yesterday. I'm going to drink a cold beer tonight in Jig's memory and let my mind wander back to the carefree days of Pokfulam and the infamous "6am crisis". A bright light who illuminated the lives of everyone he came into contact with. Our lives will now be slightly less bright.

Heartfelt condolences to Jigme's family and to you all -- Jigme's extended family.

From Alexandra Kleffel - Even though it’s been quite some time ago now since dating Jig (1992), my first real boyfriend, this news has hit me quite hard!
We have shared many special moments together and he will always stay in my memory as a VERY important person in my life!

From AJ Barty - If you weren't lucky enough to know Jigme personally, you definitely knew of him. He was one of those bright souls that left a lasting impression on you. He will be sorely missed by all.

From Amy Pevitt - Jigme Mueller - the most stunning of boys in my first years at Island School. You were always so much more than you seemed - carrying a soul so much older than your years. Be free, old friend.

From Helen Yates - I wish my memory wasn't so shocking. Despite all the little moments I've forgotten I do still have this strong impression of a young Jigme, back at Island School in our Nansen classroom. He was so bright, such a free spirit and oh so aware of how gorgeous he was! It was always exciting to be around Jigme. What a very sad loss. I know all his old school chums will be as heartbroken as I am. My condolences to Urgyan and the rest of his family.

From Sarah Yasmin Mir - What a sad loss. My heart feels so much sorrow. Jigme was such a wonderful and kind soul who was loved by so many.
My deepest sympathies goes out to his family

From James Glynn - I have been thinking of the right thing to say on this wall; of course, there is none. However, this extract from an email I just sent about Jig seems apt here:

"On the way back in the taxi tonight I realised that JIgme was still connecting me with people, even after his passing. If, when I die, I achieve that, then my life would have served its purpose for that reason alone. Perhaps the truth is that every one of us that were friends with JIg automatically trust one another; we know that Jig chose his friends carefully, and yet he had so many. Or, we know that anyone who came into contact with JIg had had their best qualities revealed by him."

James

Young Jigme

Here are a few memories of mine....

The many times Jigme made funny faces. Grimaces, I
never imagined possible. It was hilarious when he
pulled a face and changed his voice to suit it.

When the idea came to Jigme to experiment with the
water in the tiny, but deep, dipping pool on our roof
by motivating us to go around and around and around
in that tiny pool, and ever faster, just to create a
current that would move us, when we stopped, a few
centimeters further than the one we created before.
This naturally escalated into us becoming the creators
of waves and storms, of course.

When Jigme came over to play Zelda/ Mario Bros. Many a
time with new tricks and secrets... god knows how he
got hold of them!

Jigme taking a buzz out of pretending to be Freddy
Krueger holding his hand up and moving his fingers, as
if he really wore that metal-clawed glove, whilst topping
it by muttering, 'Come to Freddy!'

Jigme telling me the whole story of the pet cemetary
so vividly that it wasn't even scary when I first
watched it! Same goes for Freddy Krueger Nightmare on
Elm street! He was quite a storyteller.

Up in the ford, whilst playing sardines, Jigme was
always the most difficult to find and it was always a
challenge to find the others before he did.

Jigme singing 'Coz I am fat, I am fat, you know
it....' by "Weird Al" Yankovic, whilst doing the moon
walk.

I surely cherish the times spent with Jigme - he was
truely inspiring and astonishing in all his ways.

It's been a long long time since...

we raced over the hills near Taiping,
booby trapped around our fortress,
climbed trees, fled hill fires,
hid behind bushes, orchestrated secret encounters,
competed at MarioBros/Zelda,
went trick or treat,
partied in pyjamas watching 'The Fly'.

We had a world of colours and adventures,
exchanged mysteries, scifi books.
Smiles, laughter, kisses.

And yes, that
unforgettable dimple and those shining eyes.

Those memories will, or rather, cannot fade;
they are simply and deeply embedded in my being.

My love to Urgyan, Annie and Richard.

Jigme

Often when people pass away we feel compelled to recall their finer qualities, opting to forget their weaker points; not so with Jig – the latter did not exist in his sphere. I suspect people will convey exactly what they would have should he still be alive; Jig personified inspiration. I can safely say Jig, without fail, constantly left me better than he found me. I was always proud to tell people that I knew Jig – and whenever I introduced him to anyone, I was comfortable in the knowledge they would admire him as much as I did.

No matter what mood I greeted him with, Jigme knew exactly what to do or say, whether I was happy, sad, or simply non-plus. Jig taught me the value of living on the edge, as well as showing me how not to jump of it. Something no one could accuse him of being was ignorant; far from it, he exuded such a broad range of knowledge on all subjects, it was awe inspiring.

Only you will know what I mean when I say this, but you introduced me to a world that filled what was once an empty one. You remain responsible for instigating some of the best friendships I continue to enjoy to this day – you educated me in the lost art of conversation - I'll miss you bro.

Your friend always,

James

from Jigme's Facebook group

From Steven Lewis - I didn't know Jigme well at all but he was very entertaining in the flys and, as you know, I always put a lot of store by the ability of a person to entertain us all on the headset -- often in his case by trying to find him of course :)

From Momo Kimura - Hi Jigme,
My fondest memory of you was at yours and urgyans Halloween party where everyone had to pick team mates for some game. No one wanted to let me join their group but you let me join yours without any hesitation. You always looked out for the odd ones out:)
You are in my thoughts. XXXMomo

From Awon Golding - When I knew him back in the hazy days of childhood on Lamma, he was the oldest (and only) boy on the block, the guy that all of us fancied and tried to impress, and the one that we all looked up to. He was literally the coolest person I knew. To me he will always be that tanned boy with the dimples that spilled the beans about my piano. I’ll miss him.

may the circle be unbroken

I hope that this space is a place for postive sharing to keep that brilliant smile shining.

From around the world..

I am pretty much still at a loss for words, so instead I'll share with you some words from around the world from his friends and family in the hopes that it'll inspire you..

He is going to be so incredibly deeply missed.

Just letting you know that we are thinking about all the great times we had with Jigme. He will be missed, but will live on in our stories and minds and hearts. He was an old soul and is no doubt watching over us now.

He taught me so many things when I knew him. All those things live on with me today and I really think he made a positive impact on so many people's lives.

I loved him very much.

We all loved him because he was free .....and one of the purest lil souls a kid could ever meet.....

I have many fun memories of times past with him- he was a great guy, full of smiles and cheekiness wherever he went. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

It's a huge loss for us all - as Jigme had touched a lot of people's hearts in his very cheery and carefree ways. Some of the best times, I can remember Jig being around to share with.

Jigme was an awesome guy, truly one of a kind and he will be missed terribly...

And finishing with my favourite.. :)

And as Jig used to say, with a deep voice, and all seriousness......"Peace!!!!...........in the middle east......." followed by a slight chuckle and a smile you could never forget.