A 49 day memorial service was held last Friday night at the Empty Hand Zen Center for Tokudo Jion Susan Postal (see The Passing of Jion Susan Postal). In many Buddhist traditions, 49 days mark the end of the transition period between death and rebirth. We did bows, offered incense, chanted the Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani (Beneficial Dharani for Removing Hindrances) and the Dai Hi Shin Dharani (Great Compassion Dharani), and read several poems for Tokudo Jion. I hope it somehow helped her along.
[NOTE: I read a short verse by the 10th century Chinese Zen Master, Shushan Kuangren: "My road lies beyond as the blue sky where white clouds roam as they please. A rootless tree grows in the universe - yellow leaves are cast back by the breeze"].