49 days in the Bardo

[Mark Kohut]

Given the Christian echoes---The Word, etc.----this is more likely what TRP
plays with...(but, of course,
he loves multiple meanings.)

*Pentecost* (also called *Whit Sunday*, *Whitsunday* or *Whitsun
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitsun>*) is a Christian
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity> holiday which takes place on
the 49th day (50th day when inclusive counting
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inclusive_counting> is used) after Easter Day
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Day>.[1]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost#cite_note-Pritchard2019-1> It
commemorates the *descent of the Holy Spirit
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit>* upon the Apostles of Jesus
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles_in_the_New_Testament>while they
were in Jerusalem
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_during_the_Second_Temple_Period>
celebrating
the Feast of Weeks <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Weeks>, as
described in the Acts of the Apostles
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_the_Apostles> (Acts 2:1–31).[2]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost#cite_note-2>

On Mon, Sep 9, 2024 at 3:32 PM J Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:

>
>
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > From: J Tracy <brook7 at sover.net>
> > Subject: 49 days in the Bardo
> > Date: September 8, 2024 at 2:07:14 PM EDT
> > To: pynchon-l-owner at waste.org
> >
> > I recently was reminded that the period in the Bardo covered by the
> Tibetan Book of the Dead is 49 days.  Since the COL 49 begins with the
> death of Pierce Inverarity, this could be helpful in understanding the
> novel. Timothy  Leary’s interpretation of the psychedelic experience
> modeled on the Book of the Dead was published in 1964.
> >
> > Laurie Anderson, who practices Buddhism, does a reading of the text of
> the  Tibetan Book of the Dead with gongs, flute and other music in a recent
> release. I found it moving.
>
> --
> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>