OnThursday April 28, 2011, all across the northeastern coast of Japan, Buddhisttemples rang out bells marking the 49th day since the 9.0 Magnitude earthquakeon March 11 spawned a 10-metre (30-foot) high tsunami.
The49th day, according to Buddhist tradition, is when the dead end their restlessroaming around the area they died and move to their next phase of existencewith the 50th day.
Itis believed that the earthquake and tsunami killed nearly 26,000 people - andonly some 14,500 bodies found so far, with many washed out to sea where it isunlikely they will ever be recovered.
TheDalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, was visiting Japan onApril 28 and was scheduled to join a memorial in Tokyo. Apparently the DalaiLama had altered his schedule to ensure he was in Japan for the end of the 49days of soul wandering.
Andrew Joseph
