Cúng Thất | 49 days of chantings

Vietnamese Buddhists believe that when one dies, she might wander in the liminal worlds for up to 49 days before taking birth in another form.  For 7 weeks (49 days), family and friends chant Buddhist protective verses and offer a meal on the altar table at a Buddhist temple.  This practice benefits both the family and departed loved one.  It is a period of transition for the family to grieve and comfort one another, and enjoy 7 symbolic remaining meals with their dearly departed.  More importantly, the various Buddhist chants encourage our departed loved one to let go of remaining attachments associated with greed, anger and delusion, and lighten their heart towards peace so they can take rebirth in a happy realm.