Sacred Stories
Chanting GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA from the heart sutra for 49 days to-the-day of transition is a significant act of love in the Buddhist tradition. PARASAMGATE means completely gone to the further shore. The prefix SAM is intensive in meaning: completely, thoroughly, altogether.
She had been chanting for the husband of a close friend.
“Saturday is the 49th day,” she told her friend.
“Saturday? Saturday is March 7. March 7 is his birthday!” her friend exclaimed.
They were both brought to silent awe realizing the perfection of the date of his transition positioning the 49th day of chanting to be on his birthday.
Completely gone to perfection.
Thoroughly blessed.
Altogether in love.