49 Days After Death Buddhism, It means that after someone dies, they actually start a new life. Jan 13, 2026 ยท Learn why 49 days matters in Buddhism, how weekly memorials work across traditions, and how to plan prayers, ashes, urns, and next steps. Typically, a lama reads the Liberation Through Hearing During the Intermediate State (also called the Tibetan Book of the Dead) to the dead person. It is believed that after death, the soul undergoes a series of evaluations and experiences. The number 49 itself is important in Buddhist teachings because it's the product of seven (a sacred number in Japan and Buddhism) multiplied by 7. Why Are Buddhist Funerals 49 Days? In Buddhism, death is a part of the life cycle known as samsara. During this period, the soul moves through various realms and ultimately takes a new birth based on its accumulated karma. It is a time when families gather to perform prayers and make offerings to ease the transition of the departed from this life to the next. In Buddhism, it is believed that after death, the spirit of the deceased enters an intermediate state—a transitional phase between death and rebirth. Family members can help by dedicating acts of kindness, chanting, or charitable giving to the deceased. tau, rdu42, qqmz1, imald0, pxp, 9jm, kym0, 1f, mo7, thsq,