Many traditions maintain that the soul needs a transition period to fully detach from the physical body:

In Tibetan Buddhism, there is talk of the bardo, an intermediate state that can last up to 49 days, but where the first few days are crucial for the soul to understand that it has died.

In Judaism, it is believed that the soul lingers in the body for three days before beginning its journey to the afterlife.

In some Latin American folk beliefs, it is said that “the soul doesn’t know it has died” and remains near the living for a short time, especially if death was sudden.

These interpretations, although symbolic, have one thing in common: the soul needs time to detach itself and accept its new state.

And what does science say about consciousness after death?

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