a. Where do you go when you die?
I don't know, but I think there is heven and hell.
b. Explain why do Japanese have death memorial services 1 month, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, etc. after a person's death?
There are the judgments in each year in the underworld. The dead people are judged by god of the underworld. The dead people are decided where they will go after the death by the judgments, so we pray for the repose of their souls to god in each year. This is a thinking of Buddhism.
Ahhh, this is the first explanation I've heard about the timing of memorial services. So, a soul is judged many times in the afterlife, and when the time of judgement is coming up, the family should try to help the dead person get a favorable result by praying for them? That makes a lot of sense. Though it reminds me of having to take an exam over and over again until you get the answers right... kind of scary.
返信削除I also read about same thing as you about the death memorial service. The reason that it takes like 1, 3, 7 years is, because during that days the dead person is getting judged by the highest three gods of underworlds step by step. Scary :(
返信削除hello!
返信削除It is good expression of "underworld"!!haha.
I think If the dead people are judged by god, it is not thinking of Buddhism because "God" is Christian. Buddhism is Buddha :)
heeeeeeeeeey!
返信削除I'm a buddist, but I don't know the story.
Japanese cultures are sometimes interesting because some of them come from other countries!
hi thanks for ur comment.
返信削除I believe we'll go to heaven and hope so.