I've always had a huge crush on fantasy drama about having limited time to live, specially the 49 days time to live. This time around, after many years since the 49 days Korean Drama, we have the same story about someone who has 49 days to come back and live as a human before finally going to the afterworld.
Why is it 49 days? Why it is not 14 days, or maybe just 30 days? Why is it always 49 days?
The traditions associated with the 49 days after death in Buddhism derive from “The Tibetan Book of the Dead,” also known as the “Bardo Thodol.” Tibetan Buddhists use this book to help guide their consciousness toward rebirth after they die.
“The Tibetan Book of the Dead” establishes many traditional beliefs Tibetan Buddhists have regarding the afterlife. They don’t believe that people who die go directly to heaven or hell. Prior to their next incarnation, Buddhists believe they go through stages after death. This belief directly contributes to the ceremonies and rituals Tibetan Buddhists perform for 49 days after a person dies.
Buddhists believe that a person will continue the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth until they reach nirvana, or enlightenment. However, they don’t necessarily believe that a person is immediately reborn after they die. A person first goes through an “intermediate state” (bardo) before his next rebirth. Many Buddhists believe 49 days is the longest length of time the intermediate state can last.
This is the key reason they perform religious ceremonies every day for 49 days. Buddhists offer up prayers to improve the odds that a person who has died will experience a positive rebirth. According to Tibetan Buddhists, when a person dies, they actually go through three stages. Prayers help them work through the process.
The first stage occurs immediately after someone dies. This is the stage when what remains of their consciousness accepts death and spends time reflecting on their living experiences. During the second stage, which can last up to 49 days (although some Buddhists believe that it always lasts that long), a person’s consciousness may run into apparitions that can frighten them if they forget these apparitions are not real and can’t hurt them. That’s why loved ones pray during the 49 days after death in Buddhism. They believe a person’s consciousness can still receive and understand the words spoken to them in prayer. Because of this, prayers can theoretically help a consciousness navigate this stage. Without them, the apparitions they encounter might confuse them to such a degree that when they’re reborn, they end up in a body that will slow down their progress toward enlightenment.
It’s interesting to note that the 49 days after death in Buddhism somewhat resembles beliefs from other cultures. While it’s important to remember that no two cultures or religions are exactly the same, according to some Christian beliefs, a soul remains on Earth for 40 days after death before fully transitioning to the afterlife.
Hi Bye Mama! is a South Korean drama about a woman, named Cha Yu Ri (played by Kim Tae Hee) who has been a ghost since she died 5 years ago due to tragic traffic accident. She left behind her husband Jo Kang Hwa (played by Lee Kyu Hyung) and their just born daughter, Seo Woo. Meanwhile, Jo Kang Hwa works as a chest surgeon. He was loving, but, after his wife died, his personality changed. After 5 years, his dead wife Cha Yu Ri reappears in front of him.
To become a human again, Cha Yu Ri carries out a reincarnation project for 49 days. She has to find her own place as a wife and a mother if she didn't die to stay alive within 49 days.
The story is very interesting and meaningful as it reminds us how precious being alive is, how great it is to touch someone we love, do something for them and cherish them when we are able to love. One of the great lesson they taught us is to live our life to the fullest so that we do not have any regrets later on. Love when you are able to love and do not waste our given times with meaningless things.
Every episodes made me cry ofcourse and I can't hold back my tears specially when the story talked about how difficult it is to just hold and talk to someone when you are dead and the other person is struggling to live their life. With Cha Yu Ri sudden death, it was really difficult and such a dark time for her husband and her parents. My guess is that, the 49 days given to her is like a gift from God so that her husband and her parents can finally move on with their lives. Because, even after 5 years after her death, they are still living in the dark with so many regrets and it was hard for them to move on. And this is also another lesson to live by, is to still move on with out lives, to become stronger and believe that someone we love will always live in our heart. Sad but true.
This drama is recommended for those who love emotional fantasy drama and this is also a drama comeback for Kim Tae Hee after 7 years. A must watch in Netflix!
Cheers ~
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