The Rope in the Water: a Pilgrimage to India
Nonfiction, Travel, Asia, India, Religion & Spirituality, Eastern Religions, General Eastern Religions, Inspiration & Meditation, Inspirational
| Author: | Sylvia Fraser | ISBN: | 1230000236624 |
| Publisher: | Pandora Publications | Publication: | April 29, 2014 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | Sylvia Fraser |
| ISBN: | 1230000236624 |
| Publisher: | Pandora Publications |
| Publication: | April 29, 2014 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
When Sylvia Fraser set off on her 7,500-mile journey of self-discovery, she was at a critical point when she wanted some larger, deeper purpose. As a solo traveler, free of the props and distractions of ordinary life, Fraser decided to treat India as a fabulous dream, in which everything that happened was to teach her something of value. This reflects India’s 5,000-year karmic belief: “Change yourself and you change everything.” For three months, Fraser followed the interwoven paths of other questers to such sacred sites as the city of Varanasi, dense with the smoke of hundreds of burning corpses; the Sikhs’ glittering Golden Temple in the Punjab; a Hindu ashram up Mount Abu, and a Buddhist retreat where she meditated 11 hours a day for 10 days under a vow of silence. Yet, it was often in Fraser’s interaction with ordinary people that she gained her deepest insights. Whether camel-riding through Rajasthan’s golden deserts, trekking through lush jungles, climbing mountain fortresses, or losing herself in a fluorescent sea of brilliant turbans and saris in the hot crush of an urban bazaar, Fraser brings alive the sense-luscious tapestry of India. Most unforgettable is the miracle that saved her life while swimming in the Arabian Sea, giving her book its title: The Rope in the Water. Humorous and intelligent, this is an inspiring journey for anyone interested in worlds beyond their own.
“A story whose pacing never flags. I was caught up in the spell” - NOW magazine
“You feel searing heat, see the vivid colors, and even feel jostled by the seething crowds. Her self-deprecating humor, incisive observations and breathtaking honesty make the story-telling compelling. . .perfect for an armchair traveler” - broadcaster Pamela Wallin.
“As difficult to classify as India herself. Using her sonorous prose, Fraser opens a window to the soul of India. Her journey evokes a feeling of longing - if only we could join her, we could each find something we seek” - Regina Leader Post
“Ever the clear-eyed journalist, Fraser presents India whole. And oh, the writing! The result is a book that doesn’t so much tell us about India as take us there” - Calgary Herald.
“A brave meditation on the work of spiritual transformation” - Globe and Mail
"Part travelogue, part memoir, part journal of self-discovery, full of delightful vignettes and character studies, all are seamlessly woven together and all are fascinating" - Hamilton Spectator
"The vicarious pleasure of seeing the sites in an exotic place through the eyes of a fine writer and an engaging storyteller. What more can a reader ask for?" - Edmonton Journal
“Sometimes poignant, often humorous, she paints a vivid picture of the contradictions of India and its people" - Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
“The reader is also swept away, feeling the calmness and humor of her experiences” - Good Times
“Like a dream unfolding, . . .an immensely rewarding read” - Maclean’s
"An absorbing, candid and self-deprecating memoir. Both engrossing and entertaining” - Winnipeg Free Press
When Sylvia Fraser set off on her 7,500-mile journey of self-discovery, she was at a critical point when she wanted some larger, deeper purpose. As a solo traveler, free of the props and distractions of ordinary life, Fraser decided to treat India as a fabulous dream, in which everything that happened was to teach her something of value. This reflects India’s 5,000-year karmic belief: “Change yourself and you change everything.” For three months, Fraser followed the interwoven paths of other questers to such sacred sites as the city of Varanasi, dense with the smoke of hundreds of burning corpses; the Sikhs’ glittering Golden Temple in the Punjab; a Hindu ashram up Mount Abu, and a Buddhist retreat where she meditated 11 hours a day for 10 days under a vow of silence. Yet, it was often in Fraser’s interaction with ordinary people that she gained her deepest insights. Whether camel-riding through Rajasthan’s golden deserts, trekking through lush jungles, climbing mountain fortresses, or losing herself in a fluorescent sea of brilliant turbans and saris in the hot crush of an urban bazaar, Fraser brings alive the sense-luscious tapestry of India. Most unforgettable is the miracle that saved her life while swimming in the Arabian Sea, giving her book its title: The Rope in the Water. Humorous and intelligent, this is an inspiring journey for anyone interested in worlds beyond their own.
“A story whose pacing never flags. I was caught up in the spell” - NOW magazine
“You feel searing heat, see the vivid colors, and even feel jostled by the seething crowds. Her self-deprecating humor, incisive observations and breathtaking honesty make the story-telling compelling. . .perfect for an armchair traveler” - broadcaster Pamela Wallin.
“As difficult to classify as India herself. Using her sonorous prose, Fraser opens a window to the soul of India. Her journey evokes a feeling of longing - if only we could join her, we could each find something we seek” - Regina Leader Post
“Ever the clear-eyed journalist, Fraser presents India whole. And oh, the writing! The result is a book that doesn’t so much tell us about India as take us there” - Calgary Herald.
“A brave meditation on the work of spiritual transformation” - Globe and Mail
"Part travelogue, part memoir, part journal of self-discovery, full of delightful vignettes and character studies, all are seamlessly woven together and all are fascinating" - Hamilton Spectator
"The vicarious pleasure of seeing the sites in an exotic place through the eyes of a fine writer and an engaging storyteller. What more can a reader ask for?" - Edmonton Journal
“Sometimes poignant, often humorous, she paints a vivid picture of the contradictions of India and its people" - Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
“The reader is also swept away, feeling the calmness and humor of her experiences” - Good Times
“Like a dream unfolding, . . .an immensely rewarding read” - Maclean’s
"An absorbing, candid and self-deprecating memoir. Both engrossing and entertaining” - Winnipeg Free Press
