Hi Lips!
I'd like to hear your view on the after life?
There are so many beliefs,
What are yours?
I smelled pipe tabacco today,
in my house, Unusual to smell that around here.

Dear Looking_ glass
Yes you are right many significant religous books have reference to number 40.Most of the Sufis higher sppiritual exercisesare also based on  40 days
How ever I can quote it from Quran.
1-SURAT AL-BAQRA,Verse NO.51
  "And when we promised Moses for 40 nights."
2-SURAT AL-AIRAAF, Verse NO.142
"And we promised Moses for 30 nights and then added 10 to it. Thus the time limit of his Lord was completed in 40 Days.'
This shows that Moses spent 40 nights at Mountain Toor in Senai and worshipped his Lord and in return got bounties of his blessings and knowledge.
One Of "Hadiith Qudsi" [ The saying of Prophet Muhammad{Pbuh} which was revealed to him by Allah{Swt}but is not part of Quran] says'I made the dough of of Adam's mud for 40 days with my own hands."
One of the Prophet Muhammad saying or Hadith is.
Those who will keep himself involved in the worship of Allah for 40 days , a stream of knowledge and light will flow from their tounge and heart.'
This is why Sufis practice different names of Allah or Quranic  verses in a special way under the guidance of a teacher for 40 days to reap its benefits.
I have gone under the similar exercise ,and this in our language is known as 'Chilla' and it really gives the benefits but on the other hand it should be done under the guidance of a bonafide teacher and not just reading from the books as it is very dangerous as many of the astral objects come in the way to block it and might harm.