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Candles on The Ganges
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Following the tragic death of his young son and armed only with a basic belief in life after death the author set off on a six year search for his son. This journey was to take him deep into the spiritual world of mediumship and meditation and as he trained in these, other doors opened, with those higher spiritual beings we call angels intervening in his life and guiding him on his journey to understanding.
The author tells the story of this inner journey as he travels through the holy places of India seeking a rishi to take him to a higher level during meditation so that he can once again feel his son's presence and know that he is happy. As he travels, the loving people he meets, with their innocence and joyful laughter, warm his heart while his little son sits, just out of sight, saying, "I am here with you dad!" Ultimately he finds what he is searching for in a most unexpected place and from a completely unexpected source.
As you follow the author on his journey he gives clear, logical explanations for much of what we would call the occult or the mystic; from ghosts and poltergeists to levitation and psychometry and as he delves into the blurred boundary where science and religion come together he even explains his theory on eternal life.
Candles on The Ganges is about the illusion that we call life and the reality that lies beyond it. It is a book of spiritual growth and understanding wrapped up in an enthralling journey through India.
Following the tragic death of his young son and armed only with a basic belief in life after death the author set off on a six year search for his son. This journey was to take him deep into the spiritual world of mediumship and meditation and as he trained in these, other doors opened, with those higher spiritual beings we call angels intervening in his life and guiding him on his journey to understanding.
The author tells the story of this inner journey as he travels through the holy places of India seeking a rishi to take him to a higher level during meditation so that he can once again feel his son's presence and know that he is happy. As he travels, the loving people he meets, with their innocence and joyful laughter, warm his heart while his little son sits, just out of sight, saying, "I am here with you dad!" Ultimately he finds what he is searching for in a most unexpected place and from a completely unexpected source.
As you follow the author on his journey he gives clear, logical explanations for much of what we would call the occult or the mystic; from ghosts and poltergeists to levitation and psychometry and as he delves into the blurred boundary where science and religion come together he even explains his theory on eternal life.
Candles on The Ganges is about the illusion that we call life and the reality that lies beyond it. It is a book of spiritual growth and understanding wrapped up in an enthralling journey through India.
247 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2016
2 people are currently reading
682 people want to read
About the author
Peter E. Upton
1 book37 followersMy book 'Candles on the Ganges' really tells everything of interest about me except that I love being close to nature through gardening and long country walks, old warm pubs with log fires and close friends. For the last ten years I have been teaching myself flamenco and blues guitar both of which I play to a very poor standard. When it is too wet to walk I love making walking sticks and the way each stick tells me what sort of walking stick it wants to be. But most of all I love playing with my two lovely Grandchildren.
I would just like to thank all of the people who helped to publicize my recent ebook giveaway. As a result of your efforts 108 people took the book in two days. Hopefully these people will like the book enough to tell their friends about it and together we might manage to get it to reach those people it was written for.
Many thanks. Peter
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HTNUJ88
I would just like to thank all of the people who helped to publicize my recent ebook giveaway. As a result of your efforts 108 people took the book in two days. Hopefully these people will like the book enough to tell their friends about it and together we might manage to get it to reach those people it was written for.
Many thanks. Peter
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HTNUJ88
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 21, 2024
“Life is fragile and temporary. The faces of today quickly become the faces of the past. Sorrow, pain, and anger... it all fades- except love.
Love is forever and there after, even when we've fallen to our graves.”
― Lee Argus
Gosh, this is such an emotional journey as we walk hand in hand with the author Peter Upton, in his search for evidence of the afterlife. We've all known the heartbreak of losing a loved one, but I can only imagine how devastating it must be to lose your 7 year old son.
The author's search for spiritual enlightenment, also takes him on a magical carpet ride through India, a country of riotous colours, incessant noise, holy men, temples, and loving friendly faces, although Peter does come across some undesirables on his travels too.
As a London cabbie, the author comes across as a very down to earth person, who had little knowledge of the afterlife prior to his son Michael's passing. After Michael's death he spent many years in the wilderness ( metaphorically speaking ) before attending his local spiritualist church, eventually training to be a medium himself, ( he'd had a few 'out of body' experiences ) earlier in his life, and discovered that he had some skills in mediumship. However, he needed proof from others that somehow, somewhere, Michael's spirit was alive and happy, and that the messages he was receiving weren't just wishful thinking. He decided to travel to India in order to meet a sadhu ( an ascetic holy man ) in the hope that he will be given the one thing in the world that will give him some peace of mind. He also seeks out a rishi to help him meditate to a higher level in order to be able to experience his son's presence.
Peter's search for evidence lasted some 6 years, and I'm humbled to have shared a little of his journey, his grief, and his desperation for proof of the afterlife, the way he finds joy in the poverty stricken, yet happy children, he meets in India. Peter's persistence pays off, and he finally finds what he's searching for in a most unexpected way! An absorbing, moving read.
Love is forever and there after, even when we've fallen to our graves.”
― Lee Argus
Gosh, this is such an emotional journey as we walk hand in hand with the author Peter Upton, in his search for evidence of the afterlife. We've all known the heartbreak of losing a loved one, but I can only imagine how devastating it must be to lose your 7 year old son.
The author's search for spiritual enlightenment, also takes him on a magical carpet ride through India, a country of riotous colours, incessant noise, holy men, temples, and loving friendly faces, although Peter does come across some undesirables on his travels too.
As a London cabbie, the author comes across as a very down to earth person, who had little knowledge of the afterlife prior to his son Michael's passing. After Michael's death he spent many years in the wilderness ( metaphorically speaking ) before attending his local spiritualist church, eventually training to be a medium himself, ( he'd had a few 'out of body' experiences ) earlier in his life, and discovered that he had some skills in mediumship. However, he needed proof from others that somehow, somewhere, Michael's spirit was alive and happy, and that the messages he was receiving weren't just wishful thinking. He decided to travel to India in order to meet a sadhu ( an ascetic holy man ) in the hope that he will be given the one thing in the world that will give him some peace of mind. He also seeks out a rishi to help him meditate to a higher level in order to be able to experience his son's presence.
Peter's search for evidence lasted some 6 years, and I'm humbled to have shared a little of his journey, his grief, and his desperation for proof of the afterlife, the way he finds joy in the poverty stricken, yet happy children, he meets in India. Peter's persistence pays off, and he finally finds what he's searching for in a most unexpected way! An absorbing, moving read.
January 29, 2019
"The shock of losing him had filled me with tidal waves of conflicting emotions. The constant emotional agony was almost physical, as though a spear had been thrust through my chest, impaling me to the wall but not kind enough to kill me. The need to run in panic, to search for him and bring him back to safety. The inability to comprehend the hole in our lives where he should be. The anger and fury that I had been denied the right to fight death for the life of my child. All of these emotions were churning around inside of me but with no constructive way to use any of them."
I find it quite difficult to write a review for this book for I am afraid I won't be able to do it justice. So here I am going to try my best.
This is an autobiography of author, Peter E. Upton. He wrote this book after the tragic death of his 7 year old son, Michael. Through this book, he shared his grief and the struggle to be able to somehow connect to his departed son. The heart of father could not be contented until he could make sure his son is safe and happy in the afterlife.
"You never get over losing a child. You learn to cope with the pain, each person developing their own strategies."
So, basically, this book is about:
1. The love of father for his son and his strategy to comfort the empty feeling and pain in his heart.
2. His training and experience as a medium in England where he also learned meditation and psychometry.
3. His journey to India for spiritual enlightenment.
4. If your search for God is pure, vigorous and untiring, the spiritual world would lead you to Him.
He trained as a medium and learned meditation. For further spiritual enlightenment, he travelled to India. He visited different cities and its temples to find God but later finds that God is within himself. This reminded me of Rumi's quote:
“I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God.” -Rumi
Many kids in India reminded him of his son Michael. Their mischievous smiles. Their care-free laughter. He tells us more about Michael. His mischievous smile and how pleased he was when he tried to trick his dad. How wise and considerate of him to tell his father that he should not be angry over things if they are lost.
A calm little voice answered me, “Please don’t get angry over it, Dad. I’d rather lose it than see you get angry. It is only .......” he paused looking for the right word. “It is only a Thing, Dad. It is not worth getting angry over.”
While in India, he encountered both fake and spiritually elated gurus. He learned from both. From former he learned to be grounded and truthful to oneself (to preserve spiritual sanctity), from latter he learned to reach higher levels of spirituality.
He was a taxi driver in England and a natural medium. His friend Joan helped him to hone his mediumship skills. The learning process of meditation, the sessions of mediumship at church and the practice of psychometry were my most favorite parts.
I loved how he has explained things with scientific reasons. The emission, absorption and exchange of energy between objects and mediums. How one can tell about a person by just touching any object he possess.
Except for once, he never succeeded in connecting to his son himself. However, Michael would send him messages through another medium.
This book is full of wisdom-filled quotes. While reading, I bookmarked many parts of it but I am sharing here only a few that I liked most.
"Material things are ultimately unimportant. Love is the only thing that counts. We are born alone. We die alone. We bring nothing into this life and can take nothing out when we die. It is only when two people share pure unconditional love that they walk together through this life and this is the only bond that will keep them together in death."
"How can we be kind to others if we are not capable of being kind to ourselves? Trying to be a better person is as important as being a better person."
"The problem with many religions is that they look up to the founder of the religion as some sort of God figure. Placing this person on a pedestal to be worshipped creates a psychological barrier. A feeling that it would be hopeless trying to rise to their leader’s level of spiritual understanding and compassion because He is divine and His level is unattainable for mere mortals so there is no point trying. All they can do is put their faith in Him and hope this is enough to ensure their own salvation, rather than using Him as an example of the level they might be able to aspire to if they are prepared to devote the time and effort."
I received an ARC of this book from author in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2018
Phenomenal.
Autobiography of the Year | 2017
I urge and appeal you to read Candles on The Ganges.
Plot :
Candles on The Ganges is an excellent narration of a man who is dealing with his son's death. His search takes him to a journey that will alter his belief and views and so of the reader. He already has a set of rules and methods he learned from his place and in order to explore stability and spirituality further, he makes a choice to visit a rishi in India.
All he desires is to feel the presence of his son again. For that, he is ready to go beyond his limits. And that, he does.
He arrives in India and meets with a whole different set of people. He develops an unsaid connection with everyone around him. He starts to see the goal and with him, you see that too. The scientific explanations and the author's own point of view nothing but thrills you.
What happens with a man who was just a taxi driver back in England, who thought himself to be ordinary but how his exceptional voyage inspired him to do the extraordinary and collect it all in a poignant manner in a fabulous book, is what you have to figure out!
My Notion :
As the understanding within the author starts to grow, you grow with him too. You come to know that this journey was something you never had had before.
There are books I weep for when I sense that they are going to end soon. Candles on The Ganges authoritatively secured its place in that list. My favorite quote would be :
There was a moment when the taxi drivers in India shamelessly ask the author to pay money and being a newcomer in the country, he does what he is asked to. A line that made me laugh and astonished me was : When In Delhi he was describing how immovable people who work on one-man business (Selling handkerchief, postcard etc. )can be. He kept refusing their service but they were adamant. He wrote a line for them :
One great thing about this book was that it never disappoints you. Not at a single point. Take my guarantee for it. The fact that I got to talk to the author, has made me more attached the story. It inspired and moved me immensely. It amazed, stirred emotions and commanded me to see my life from the most positive perspective.
There might be incidents you would not agree completely to, but so would you be drawn to the writing style Peter presents before you, you would not intervene his storytelling until he comes to the end. And you know what happens in the end? You feel gratitude and fortunate.
My heart kept sinking with grief and amusement when some children used to fool him into giving them more money for their work and how cheerfully he did that even after knowing that they are looting him. That moment I had a little idea if I should weep for him or laugh over this.
When he visited to Rajsthan, I knew that he is going to be excited seeing that beautiful place but with the compelling style he recounts his journey and memories, fascinated me. After reading his narration, I felt that even after being a citizen of this country, I need to visit India completely.
The cover speaks volumes about him and his family when you finish reading the book. His diary entries tickle you to have a journey for yourself.
I was drawn instantly to the writing style. During my read, I smiled like a teen boy. I wept. I held my breath to get to know what happens next. I retrospected my life if I was doing everything right and what it all means. I learned about things I didn't know before. I was young. I was old. I played a lot. I took rest. I traveled to places. I talked and listened. Candles on The Ganges gave me an experience I would never forget.
All in all, I look forward to reading it once more.
Final Words :
For the readers of my reviews, I demand you to read Candles on The Ganges. It is a book you'll keep close to yourself.
P.S. The following picture of our favorite cats renders how absorbed my wife and I were while reading it.
Autobiography of the Year | 2017
I urge and appeal you to read Candles on The Ganges.
Plot :
Candles on The Ganges is an excellent narration of a man who is dealing with his son's death. His search takes him to a journey that will alter his belief and views and so of the reader. He already has a set of rules and methods he learned from his place and in order to explore stability and spirituality further, he makes a choice to visit a rishi in India.
All he desires is to feel the presence of his son again. For that, he is ready to go beyond his limits. And that, he does.
He arrives in India and meets with a whole different set of people. He develops an unsaid connection with everyone around him. He starts to see the goal and with him, you see that too. The scientific explanations and the author's own point of view nothing but thrills you.
What happens with a man who was just a taxi driver back in England, who thought himself to be ordinary but how his exceptional voyage inspired him to do the extraordinary and collect it all in a poignant manner in a fabulous book, is what you have to figure out!
My Notion :
As the understanding within the author starts to grow, you grow with him too. You come to know that this journey was something you never had had before.
There are books I weep for when I sense that they are going to end soon. Candles on The Ganges authoritatively secured its place in that list. My favorite quote would be :
"Synchronicity! is the official term for when two people appear to meet as if by chance, at just the right moment to achieve a higher spiritual purpose!"
There was a moment when the taxi drivers in India shamelessly ask the author to pay money and being a newcomer in the country, he does what he is asked to. A line that made me laugh and astonished me was : When In Delhi he was describing how immovable people who work on one-man business (Selling handkerchief, postcard etc. )can be. He kept refusing their service but they were adamant. He wrote a line for them :
They all speak perfect English but not one of them understands the word “No”
One great thing about this book was that it never disappoints you. Not at a single point. Take my guarantee for it. The fact that I got to talk to the author, has made me more attached the story. It inspired and moved me immensely. It amazed, stirred emotions and commanded me to see my life from the most positive perspective.
There might be incidents you would not agree completely to, but so would you be drawn to the writing style Peter presents before you, you would not intervene his storytelling until he comes to the end. And you know what happens in the end? You feel gratitude and fortunate.
My heart kept sinking with grief and amusement when some children used to fool him into giving them more money for their work and how cheerfully he did that even after knowing that they are looting him. That moment I had a little idea if I should weep for him or laugh over this.
When he visited to Rajsthan, I knew that he is going to be excited seeing that beautiful place but with the compelling style he recounts his journey and memories, fascinated me. After reading his narration, I felt that even after being a citizen of this country, I need to visit India completely.
The cover speaks volumes about him and his family when you finish reading the book. His diary entries tickle you to have a journey for yourself.
I was drawn instantly to the writing style. During my read, I smiled like a teen boy. I wept. I held my breath to get to know what happens next. I retrospected my life if I was doing everything right and what it all means. I learned about things I didn't know before. I was young. I was old. I played a lot. I took rest. I traveled to places. I talked and listened. Candles on The Ganges gave me an experience I would never forget.
All in all, I look forward to reading it once more.
Final Words :
For the readers of my reviews, I demand you to read Candles on The Ganges. It is a book you'll keep close to yourself.
P.S. The following picture of our favorite cats renders how absorbed my wife and I were while reading it.
November 11, 2021
This is a deeply spiritual and moving book. This is a true account of how the urge to communicate with his son (who passed away tragically very early at the age of 7), keeps the author, Peter, going.
The loss of a child, and at such a young age is a painful tragedy like no other. I have seen how immensely traumatic this is for people who have faced this. Peter is a cab driver in London, and senses that he has a gift as a potential medium himself. He approaches many mediums at the church and also at some other places subsequent to his son Michael’s passing. He receives several messages from his son and feels good that his presence in their lives continues – Peter and his wife also have another daughter. Peter himself is able to convey messages to other people from their loved ones who have passed on. He also takes up a course in astrology. At some point, he feels he should make a trip to India to deepen his spiritual practices.
His travels in India – Delhi, Haridwar and then Rajasthan are very well narrated. Peter runs into a number of instances where he is cheated, but at the same time meets many wise & helpful people as well. Much of his experiences makes for very interesting reading (except a very silly narration of an episode on a train where a doctor asserts that eating chappatis is making Indians foolish and weak). His keen interest, respect for and observation of the meditation practices of some of the gurus in Haridwar, helps him reach the silence within him which he has longed for. An overview of Vedanta would have helped Peter better tie up the concepts, temples, practices and rituals which he observed though.
This is a book which should be widely read – it is very honest, deep and meaningful. Very strongly recommended.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
The loss of a child, and at such a young age is a painful tragedy like no other. I have seen how immensely traumatic this is for people who have faced this. Peter is a cab driver in London, and senses that he has a gift as a potential medium himself. He approaches many mediums at the church and also at some other places subsequent to his son Michael’s passing. He receives several messages from his son and feels good that his presence in their lives continues – Peter and his wife also have another daughter. Peter himself is able to convey messages to other people from their loved ones who have passed on. He also takes up a course in astrology. At some point, he feels he should make a trip to India to deepen his spiritual practices.
His travels in India – Delhi, Haridwar and then Rajasthan are very well narrated. Peter runs into a number of instances where he is cheated, but at the same time meets many wise & helpful people as well. Much of his experiences makes for very interesting reading (except a very silly narration of an episode on a train where a doctor asserts that eating chappatis is making Indians foolish and weak). His keen interest, respect for and observation of the meditation practices of some of the gurus in Haridwar, helps him reach the silence within him which he has longed for. An overview of Vedanta would have helped Peter better tie up the concepts, temples, practices and rituals which he observed though.
This is a book which should be widely read – it is very honest, deep and meaningful. Very strongly recommended.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
December 5, 2017
I will refrain from elaborating on the narrative of this memoir because this can be found in the book description as well as in numerous reviews.
So I’ll immediately go into medias res. There are three interwoven main components of this book:
(1) the author��s agony about losing a child,
(2) the author’s travelogue of his 6-week trip to India, where he wishes to expand his spirituality and find final proof that there is in fact an afterlife and that his previous contacts with his son through mediums are real and not just some kind of illusion, and
(3) the author’s spiritual search, spiritual growth, and spiritual experiences (one of which he already had when he was a teenager).
I have more in common with the author than I wish I had.
(To 1:) I, too, have lost a child (my only child). I lost her in a car accident. (She had made a simple driving mistake.) Today is the 30th anniversary of my daughter’s official date of death. Her fatal accident happened three days earlier, that is, on November 30, 1987, two days after her 25th birthday and about 1 year before the author’s son died, at age 7, suddenly and unexpectedly from heart failure.
(To 2:) I, too, have traveled to India. However, this had had nothing to do with spiritual search. Instead, this had been in the 1970s, many years before my daughter’s death. The 1st trip had been to attend the wedding of one of my 1st husband’s business associates. The 2nd trip had been to accompany a German businessman and interpret German/English for the purchase of a German know-how.
(To 3:) I, too, have had spiritual experiences from childhood on. I had a clairvoyance dream at age 10 or 11. I had a very distinct clairvoyance experience at age 30. I had another clairvoyance dream (with my 23-years-earlier deceased grandmother urging me to do something) at age 33. I had my grandmother appearing to me in flesh and blood three days before (or after?) this dream. I occasionally still have some minor clairvoyance events warning me of some danger. And just as the author of “Candles on the Ganges”, I had read a number of spiritual books (some good ones, some not so good ones) in earlier years and had also been a bit into meditating during this time. Unlike the author, I have not pursued spirituality after tragedy hit. Neither have I ever tried to contact my daughter through a medium (or on my own). This may have had to do with the fact that my daughter had not been a spiritual person. There would have been very little chance to reach her. Had I ever tried to reach anyone in the “beyond”, it would have been my grandmother. But I never did.
And now to the above book:
The tragedy of losing a child, is beyond words. If you haven’t experienced it yourself (which I hope and pray you never will) and you were to try to imagine this agony (which I don’t recommend because you should not torture yourself), you would still have to multiply it by the factor 100 to get anywhere near. I am grateful that the author spares us details of this horror. I keep telling all of my friends to urge their children and grandchildren to drive carefully, to also avoid all other unnecessary dangers, and explain to them that if something happened to them, the lives of their parents and grandparents would be devastated for decades. (It took me 20 years to find closure.) Reading this book will inspire you to do everything in your power to save you from such tragedy. You might take your (grand)child to another doctor for a second opinion, or you might decide to finance him or her a safer car.
The India travelogue part of this book is very interesting and highly entertaining. (And did I ever appreciate in retrospect that my trips to India involved only 1st-class hotels, came with a chauffeured car, and did not include any camel ride into the Rajasthan desert. :-))
What makes this book outstanding, however, is neither the part of mourning the loss of a child, nor is it the very enjoyable travelogue; it is the spiritual part of the book.
As anyone who has ever read spiritual books (or might have had spiritual experiences) knows, there are always so many unanswered questions. Never have I found anywhere so many questions answered as in this book. Never have I found someone who claimed to have had spiritual experiences (be they with the help of mediums or gurus or without) so very believable.
I am very, very skeptic when it comes to anything paranormal, psychic, mystic, or esoteric. There are too many crooks trying to make money with fraudulent claims (or only trying to sell a bogus book). There are too many wannabe psychics, who may have some minor psychic abilities, which they greatly exaggerate in order to make money or only to gain attention and/or recognition. (Many people, such as I, have some psychic talents, but I would be a fraud if I told you that I could read your future.) And there are many nutcases who claim to have psychic talents but have none whatsoever and should be in psychiatric care. Yet there are also people with genuine psychic talents, who are capable mediums, have healing powers, or have clairvoyance (which can be with or without auxiliary means).
From the way, the author of the above book writes, disclosing all his doubts and his limits, while providing meticulous details (I never found in any other spiritual book), combined with all I have experienced myself, I can assure you that whatever Peter Upton tells in this book is the truth and nothing but the truth.
It doesn’t happen very often that I “put my hand in the fire” for someone telling the truth (and particularly for someone I do not personally know), but in this case I do.
Could Peter Upton have fallen victim to some illusions? I would say, possibly with some minor things, not with anything significant.
Am I convinced that there is an afterlife? Well, ever since my grandmother appeared to me in the dream and also in flesh and blood, I have never had any other explanation. However, unlike Peter, for whom it was so very important to find proof for an afterlife, it has never been too important for me whether there is or isn’t. I wouldn't live any differently either way. (I try to be as kind and compassionate as I can for the love of people and animals, which of course, is not anywhere near perfect. Yet it would never occur to me to be good with the purpose of "securing a better seat in heaven”.) Of course it would be wonderful to be re-united with my daughter and with all my other loved ones, including the 4-legged ones. Yet if there weren’t any afterlife, I would not even have time to be disappointed, because before I would be able to become aware that there isn’t, I would have ceased to exist. So there is nothing to be afraid of.
Apart from all spiritual considerations, a God-force behind the Big Bang (and as such an afterlife) makes a lot more sense to me than “A Universe from Nothing”. (You might wish to read my review of “A Universe from Nothing” at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....)
Does Peter Upton’s book have any flaws? Yes it does. (I would have liked to learn more about Peter's wife and daughter. And I doubt that all deserts could be turned into fertile soil if only there were enough money for such projects; yet I am no expert on this topic.) However, these flaws are unrelated to the invaluable spiritual part. Thus, they are of no importance. When someone delivers me a priceless gem for a few dollars, I won’t criticize the wrapping it comes in. Therefore, 5 stars it is.
So I’ll immediately go into medias res. There are three interwoven main components of this book:
(1) the author��s agony about losing a child,
(2) the author’s travelogue of his 6-week trip to India, where he wishes to expand his spirituality and find final proof that there is in fact an afterlife and that his previous contacts with his son through mediums are real and not just some kind of illusion, and
(3) the author’s spiritual search, spiritual growth, and spiritual experiences (one of which he already had when he was a teenager).
I have more in common with the author than I wish I had.
(To 1:) I, too, have lost a child (my only child). I lost her in a car accident. (She had made a simple driving mistake.) Today is the 30th anniversary of my daughter’s official date of death. Her fatal accident happened three days earlier, that is, on November 30, 1987, two days after her 25th birthday and about 1 year before the author’s son died, at age 7, suddenly and unexpectedly from heart failure.
(To 2:) I, too, have traveled to India. However, this had had nothing to do with spiritual search. Instead, this had been in the 1970s, many years before my daughter’s death. The 1st trip had been to attend the wedding of one of my 1st husband’s business associates. The 2nd trip had been to accompany a German businessman and interpret German/English for the purchase of a German know-how.
(To 3:) I, too, have had spiritual experiences from childhood on. I had a clairvoyance dream at age 10 or 11. I had a very distinct clairvoyance experience at age 30. I had another clairvoyance dream (with my 23-years-earlier deceased grandmother urging me to do something) at age 33. I had my grandmother appearing to me in flesh and blood three days before (or after?) this dream. I occasionally still have some minor clairvoyance events warning me of some danger. And just as the author of “Candles on the Ganges”, I had read a number of spiritual books (some good ones, some not so good ones) in earlier years and had also been a bit into meditating during this time. Unlike the author, I have not pursued spirituality after tragedy hit. Neither have I ever tried to contact my daughter through a medium (or on my own). This may have had to do with the fact that my daughter had not been a spiritual person. There would have been very little chance to reach her. Had I ever tried to reach anyone in the “beyond”, it would have been my grandmother. But I never did.
And now to the above book:
The tragedy of losing a child, is beyond words. If you haven’t experienced it yourself (which I hope and pray you never will) and you were to try to imagine this agony (which I don’t recommend because you should not torture yourself), you would still have to multiply it by the factor 100 to get anywhere near. I am grateful that the author spares us details of this horror. I keep telling all of my friends to urge their children and grandchildren to drive carefully, to also avoid all other unnecessary dangers, and explain to them that if something happened to them, the lives of their parents and grandparents would be devastated for decades. (It took me 20 years to find closure.) Reading this book will inspire you to do everything in your power to save you from such tragedy. You might take your (grand)child to another doctor for a second opinion, or you might decide to finance him or her a safer car.
The India travelogue part of this book is very interesting and highly entertaining. (And did I ever appreciate in retrospect that my trips to India involved only 1st-class hotels, came with a chauffeured car, and did not include any camel ride into the Rajasthan desert. :-))
What makes this book outstanding, however, is neither the part of mourning the loss of a child, nor is it the very enjoyable travelogue; it is the spiritual part of the book.
As anyone who has ever read spiritual books (or might have had spiritual experiences) knows, there are always so many unanswered questions. Never have I found anywhere so many questions answered as in this book. Never have I found someone who claimed to have had spiritual experiences (be they with the help of mediums or gurus or without) so very believable.
I am very, very skeptic when it comes to anything paranormal, psychic, mystic, or esoteric. There are too many crooks trying to make money with fraudulent claims (or only trying to sell a bogus book). There are too many wannabe psychics, who may have some minor psychic abilities, which they greatly exaggerate in order to make money or only to gain attention and/or recognition. (Many people, such as I, have some psychic talents, but I would be a fraud if I told you that I could read your future.) And there are many nutcases who claim to have psychic talents but have none whatsoever and should be in psychiatric care. Yet there are also people with genuine psychic talents, who are capable mediums, have healing powers, or have clairvoyance (which can be with or without auxiliary means).
From the way, the author of the above book writes, disclosing all his doubts and his limits, while providing meticulous details (I never found in any other spiritual book), combined with all I have experienced myself, I can assure you that whatever Peter Upton tells in this book is the truth and nothing but the truth.
It doesn’t happen very often that I “put my hand in the fire” for someone telling the truth (and particularly for someone I do not personally know), but in this case I do.
Could Peter Upton have fallen victim to some illusions? I would say, possibly with some minor things, not with anything significant.
Am I convinced that there is an afterlife? Well, ever since my grandmother appeared to me in the dream and also in flesh and blood, I have never had any other explanation. However, unlike Peter, for whom it was so very important to find proof for an afterlife, it has never been too important for me whether there is or isn’t. I wouldn't live any differently either way. (I try to be as kind and compassionate as I can for the love of people and animals, which of course, is not anywhere near perfect. Yet it would never occur to me to be good with the purpose of "securing a better seat in heaven”.) Of course it would be wonderful to be re-united with my daughter and with all my other loved ones, including the 4-legged ones. Yet if there weren’t any afterlife, I would not even have time to be disappointed, because before I would be able to become aware that there isn’t, I would have ceased to exist. So there is nothing to be afraid of.
Apart from all spiritual considerations, a God-force behind the Big Bang (and as such an afterlife) makes a lot more sense to me than “A Universe from Nothing”. (You might wish to read my review of “A Universe from Nothing” at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....)
Does Peter Upton’s book have any flaws? Yes it does. (I would have liked to learn more about Peter's wife and daughter. And I doubt that all deserts could be turned into fertile soil if only there were enough money for such projects; yet I am no expert on this topic.) However, these flaws are unrelated to the invaluable spiritual part. Thus, they are of no importance. When someone delivers me a priceless gem for a few dollars, I won’t criticize the wrapping it comes in. Therefore, 5 stars it is.
December 7, 2016
This is a well-written, absorbing book. It tells of the shocking, sudden death of the author’s beloved young son, Michael, and his search to ascertain that Michael is thriving in the after-life.
This search triggered the author to train as a medium in order to contact Michael himself, and it also took him to India.
Here Peter encounters many con men, but also a yogi who tells him “a lot of love comes to you on April 21st”, which is Michael’s birthday.
He is advised to contact a man called Pushpa Raj, an Ayurvedic practitioner who runs an ashram in Delhi and who would be able to recommend good meditation courses. At first, Peter doesn’t manage to meet up with this man but has other good experiences.
As regards the various con men, Peter provides us with an apt statement: “They all speak perfect English, but not one of them understands the word ‘No’”.
Interspersed with the account of the India trip, Peter tells us about Michael and visits to mediums who provide him with information about him. Particularly one medium, Joan, makes a big impression on Peter, and it is she who encourages him to join her medium training group.
We learn about Peter’s successes in his demonstrations of tuning into people who have passed on to the after-life.
He used to be a London taxi-driver and had numerous opportunities to try out his mediumistic gifts with his customers.
He explains that he tunes into the dead by altering his brainwaves, but does not explain how he does so.
Peter’s descriptions of deceased persons whom he contacts via his taxi passengers are exceedingly accurate, and he really seems to have a strong, natural talent for making these contacts, though he has insisted to me in a personal communication that he has not. Methinks he is too modest.
We are given an absorbing description of the Ganga (Ganges), and are told how a Swami Brahmanaga shows him how best to meditate, which he did on the banks of the magnificent Ganges.
He meets with some disabled children and realizes that “the way to heal myself was through helping to heal others”.
His descriptions of India and the Indians he meets are enchanting and illuminating.
As regards yogic sitting-positions, he is taught by one of those he gets to know:
“Always remember being comfortable is more important than appearing correct. Be kind to yourself. If the God you are reaching out to is a loving God do you think you can reach him while you are being so harsh to your own body?”
Here are some insightful quotes from the book:
“I knew without doubt, that everything is alive and God is in everything.”
“We come from the lake, we live as individual droplets and then we return to the lake.”
We are told that it is an accepted part of Indian tradition that married men keep to a material lifestyle until their children have grown up, after which they are free to renounce all worldly goods and become sadhus; the idea is that the third part of life should be one of spiritual preparation for your own eventual death. (What about women?)
“You do not have to lock yourself away in a monastery or live like a hermit --- to grow in godliness. When you are out there in everyday life, wanting to help others”, due to your compassion, “that is when you are truly progressing spiritually even if you are not an angel”.
Peter is also expert at doing tarot readings and is continually asked to do so by his new Indian friends.
Eventually, he does get the chance to meet with Pushpa Raj, the one he had come to India to consult, and receives from him an accurate astrology reading together with an “amazing” palmistry reading. Then Peter is asked to give the guru a tarot reading, which causes him some consternation. However, his reading is successful, and he receives much praise for his accuracy.
Peter’s book is filled with spiritual information both by way of the various highly developed persons he encounters in India and his own spiritual insights.
A final quote:
“I have also come to believe that through the way we live our lives, the decisions we make, the love we give or withhold, we travel up and down this energy spiral gradually building a spiritual vibration level that is the true us, survives death with us and carries us to the place in the next world where our vibration is in harmony. The higher our spiritual wisdom the further up the spiral we naturally gravitate and the nearer to the Godhead.”
We are also given accounts of Peter’s various spiritual experiences, including an out-of-body experience.
Peter’s final message to us is “Be kind”, which is also what the Dalai Lama tells us is most important.
I firmly recommend that you read this enlightening book, which is also a wonderful memorial to the author’s son, Michael.
This search triggered the author to train as a medium in order to contact Michael himself, and it also took him to India.
Here Peter encounters many con men, but also a yogi who tells him “a lot of love comes to you on April 21st”, which is Michael’s birthday.
He is advised to contact a man called Pushpa Raj, an Ayurvedic practitioner who runs an ashram in Delhi and who would be able to recommend good meditation courses. At first, Peter doesn’t manage to meet up with this man but has other good experiences.
As regards the various con men, Peter provides us with an apt statement: “They all speak perfect English, but not one of them understands the word ‘No’”.
Interspersed with the account of the India trip, Peter tells us about Michael and visits to mediums who provide him with information about him. Particularly one medium, Joan, makes a big impression on Peter, and it is she who encourages him to join her medium training group.
We learn about Peter’s successes in his demonstrations of tuning into people who have passed on to the after-life.
He used to be a London taxi-driver and had numerous opportunities to try out his mediumistic gifts with his customers.
He explains that he tunes into the dead by altering his brainwaves, but does not explain how he does so.
Peter’s descriptions of deceased persons whom he contacts via his taxi passengers are exceedingly accurate, and he really seems to have a strong, natural talent for making these contacts, though he has insisted to me in a personal communication that he has not. Methinks he is too modest.
We are given an absorbing description of the Ganga (Ganges), and are told how a Swami Brahmanaga shows him how best to meditate, which he did on the banks of the magnificent Ganges.
He meets with some disabled children and realizes that “the way to heal myself was through helping to heal others”.
His descriptions of India and the Indians he meets are enchanting and illuminating.
As regards yogic sitting-positions, he is taught by one of those he gets to know:
“Always remember being comfortable is more important than appearing correct. Be kind to yourself. If the God you are reaching out to is a loving God do you think you can reach him while you are being so harsh to your own body?”
Here are some insightful quotes from the book:
“I knew without doubt, that everything is alive and God is in everything.”
“We come from the lake, we live as individual droplets and then we return to the lake.”
We are told that it is an accepted part of Indian tradition that married men keep to a material lifestyle until their children have grown up, after which they are free to renounce all worldly goods and become sadhus; the idea is that the third part of life should be one of spiritual preparation for your own eventual death. (What about women?)
“You do not have to lock yourself away in a monastery or live like a hermit --- to grow in godliness. When you are out there in everyday life, wanting to help others”, due to your compassion, “that is when you are truly progressing spiritually even if you are not an angel”.
Peter is also expert at doing tarot readings and is continually asked to do so by his new Indian friends.
Eventually, he does get the chance to meet with Pushpa Raj, the one he had come to India to consult, and receives from him an accurate astrology reading together with an “amazing” palmistry reading. Then Peter is asked to give the guru a tarot reading, which causes him some consternation. However, his reading is successful, and he receives much praise for his accuracy.
Peter’s book is filled with spiritual information both by way of the various highly developed persons he encounters in India and his own spiritual insights.
A final quote:
“I have also come to believe that through the way we live our lives, the decisions we make, the love we give or withhold, we travel up and down this energy spiral gradually building a spiritual vibration level that is the true us, survives death with us and carries us to the place in the next world where our vibration is in harmony. The higher our spiritual wisdom the further up the spiral we naturally gravitate and the nearer to the Godhead.”
We are also given accounts of Peter’s various spiritual experiences, including an out-of-body experience.
Peter’s final message to us is “Be kind”, which is also what the Dalai Lama tells us is most important.
I firmly recommend that you read this enlightening book, which is also a wonderful memorial to the author’s son, Michael.
January 18, 2017
My favorite kinds of books are non-fiction and autobiographical and travelogue. These components were present in Candles on the Ganges. I delighted in traveling here and there, meeting so many interesting people and all the while on a path of discovery. Peter's writing style draws you into his life of pain, joys, delights, concerns, and self discovery. While he and I disagree on mediums, the occult and religion, I respect his walk through life and how he shared the depth of his soul with the reader. Independently published books tend to miss out on rigorous editing that most books need. Peter's book isn't missing anything. I am transported to India through his senses and his anguish and relief of loss stirs my own life experiences. Well written! I love the cover art painted by his wife. The entire book is a work of art.
September 8, 2017
Do you believe in life after death? Do you ever think about the possibility of your loved ones who have passed still being around you in a kind of ethereal form?
When I really stop and think about it, it always amazes me how many belief systems we have on this planet we call home and how the paradigm of each of those religious ‘groupings’ seem to have so many differences yet at the same time overlap in similarity?
Candles on The Ganges certainly is an an interesting book to discover. Essentially, this is a book of one man’s journey from his young son’s death to exploring his spiritual capabilities which takes his from a taxi driver job to India (in 1995) and back. This book, I would be described as: This is life! Just like life has many explored and hidden depths, so does this book. It addresses everything from sadness to joy, from human-to-human contact to divine experiences. And the best part of it all is- there are so many simple thought-snippets in this book that resonate!
Whether you believe in mediums, Tarot reading, psychometry, in (any) god or not… it doesn’t matter. Read the book as a nonfiction memoir or read it as fiction- you will still come out on the other end full of thoughts on what you could do to live a better life and possibly even with more enlightened.
The book is written based on Peter’s notes that are messages from Michael, his son, through a medium; diary entries from his visit to India; and recollections of any kind of events he found himself in as a taxi driver in London that had any kind of effect during his medium apprenticeship days (if I may say so) and are relevant to the spiritual message of his book and act as proof for backup.
There is always the case of sceptics to address… and whether you can comprehend what Peter’s book is about or not based on whether you believe or not, it’s mind blowing to even consider that it may just be possible. Or is it the fact that you have to believe to experience? One thing is for sure, everything Peter wrote about, the only question in my head repeating like a mantra, was: Really? That’s… wow! And even if you don’t believe because you haven’t experienced, it’s worth to think: is it because we’re so tuned into the modern way of life, which that part of us, our spirit, behind a barrier and disables us from connecting to that which makes up all of the life force?
God force or not… (and as I more decline towards LaVey’s writings, I believe I am my own god, here and now) I still believe that being connected to the nature is what can truly make us happy and that we are all energy. I know sweet nothing about science but what I do know is that energy doesn’t just become or disappear, it transfers (or whatever the correct wording for that particular law is) and I do believe that whatever it is that makes you and me and everyone a real live person, will not die when our physical bodies give up. Believing that, how can I then not believe that as we’re all energy, we’re also connected? To everything!
If you’re someone looking to explore spirituality through someone else’s experience, Candles on The Ganges would be the book I can easily suggest you start from. Peter writes about his experiences with above mentioned: psychometry, becoming a medium, healing, meditation, Tarot, astrology… anything to do with psychic abilities; and of course you’re given the permission to doubt, that’s up to you. More importantly, the overall message of this book, what spurred Peter on this spiritual journey was the loss of his son… and the journey through his mourning and wanting to know what actually IS after death, will take you to India! In 1995! I could easily picture myself in the hustle and bustle and peace of the place, and in a way it gives a great cultural overview of India as well…
When I really stop and think about it, it always amazes me how many belief systems we have on this planet we call home and how the paradigm of each of those religious ‘groupings’ seem to have so many differences yet at the same time overlap in similarity?
Candles on The Ganges certainly is an an interesting book to discover. Essentially, this is a book of one man’s journey from his young son’s death to exploring his spiritual capabilities which takes his from a taxi driver job to India (in 1995) and back. This book, I would be described as: This is life! Just like life has many explored and hidden depths, so does this book. It addresses everything from sadness to joy, from human-to-human contact to divine experiences. And the best part of it all is- there are so many simple thought-snippets in this book that resonate!
Whether you believe in mediums, Tarot reading, psychometry, in (any) god or not… it doesn’t matter. Read the book as a nonfiction memoir or read it as fiction- you will still come out on the other end full of thoughts on what you could do to live a better life and possibly even with more enlightened.
The book is written based on Peter’s notes that are messages from Michael, his son, through a medium; diary entries from his visit to India; and recollections of any kind of events he found himself in as a taxi driver in London that had any kind of effect during his medium apprenticeship days (if I may say so) and are relevant to the spiritual message of his book and act as proof for backup.
There is always the case of sceptics to address… and whether you can comprehend what Peter’s book is about or not based on whether you believe or not, it’s mind blowing to even consider that it may just be possible. Or is it the fact that you have to believe to experience? One thing is for sure, everything Peter wrote about, the only question in my head repeating like a mantra, was: Really? That’s… wow! And even if you don’t believe because you haven’t experienced, it’s worth to think: is it because we’re so tuned into the modern way of life, which that part of us, our spirit, behind a barrier and disables us from connecting to that which makes up all of the life force?
God force or not… (and as I more decline towards LaVey’s writings, I believe I am my own god, here and now) I still believe that being connected to the nature is what can truly make us happy and that we are all energy. I know sweet nothing about science but what I do know is that energy doesn’t just become or disappear, it transfers (or whatever the correct wording for that particular law is) and I do believe that whatever it is that makes you and me and everyone a real live person, will not die when our physical bodies give up. Believing that, how can I then not believe that as we’re all energy, we’re also connected? To everything!
If you’re someone looking to explore spirituality through someone else’s experience, Candles on The Ganges would be the book I can easily suggest you start from. Peter writes about his experiences with above mentioned: psychometry, becoming a medium, healing, meditation, Tarot, astrology… anything to do with psychic abilities; and of course you’re given the permission to doubt, that’s up to you. More importantly, the overall message of this book, what spurred Peter on this spiritual journey was the loss of his son… and the journey through his mourning and wanting to know what actually IS after death, will take you to India! In 1995! I could easily picture myself in the hustle and bustle and peace of the place, and in a way it gives a great cultural overview of India as well…
May 12, 2022
Beautiful
This is a love story about Peter’s son, Michael, who had died in his arms. After his death, Peter wished to know whether his son was happy, if he was alive in another realm. Peter is also a psychic, and so his search begins by seeking out other psychics in England before his traveling to India to find gurus for even more answers.
It is also a book about God, Peter’s views of God, and his beliefs are so beautiful that you have to listen to what he has to say. When he speaks of his son you listen as well.
And it is also a travel book. I really enjoyed his stories in this book, especially the one of his traveling in the desert in India on a camel and how it began raining while he was sitting on it, just for him to learn that the rain was the camel’s urine. When male camels are excited over a female camel, and one had just walked by, they spread their urine all over themselves by swishing their tails. And I used to think that riding a camel would be fun, and maybe it would be if it didn’t get near a female. Better yet, ride a female camel, not a male.
The picture of India that he paints is just beautiful, and he seemed to not judge its poverty but offered a solution, whereas, I judge the governments, the people, and the religions for the poverty in the world. I think that the reason India can accept the poverty is because they believe in karma, which means that these people who are dying on the streets deserve what is happening to them, it is due to their actions in a past life, and to interfere with them is to interfere with their karma, which they have to work it out by themselves. When I was in Hinduism I often wondered what kind of karma a person was gathering up themselves by not helping others. They never talked about this, and I never asked. I no longer believe in karma.
Then in one of the last chapters I realized that I had only been assuming that he wasn’t judging, because he said was bothered by the people dying in the streets, and he realized that people were giving their money to the temples and their food to Brahma by throwing it into a lake, when, instead, they could be feeding the poor. Yes.
It was also a very heartbreaking story for when he talked about the children in India, when he played with them, it was then when I felt his love for them, and in his love for them, I felt his pain over losing Michael.
So, if you love Hinduism or just wish to learn more about it, believe in psychic readings or not, or even just like travel stories, this beautifully written story may be for you. In any case, this is a very beautiful and heartwarming love story, a eulogy to his son Michael. As for me, I found this to be a hard read because death is hard for me to read about and many of the Hindu teachings deeply bother me.
This is a love story about Peter’s son, Michael, who had died in his arms. After his death, Peter wished to know whether his son was happy, if he was alive in another realm. Peter is also a psychic, and so his search begins by seeking out other psychics in England before his traveling to India to find gurus for even more answers.
It is also a book about God, Peter’s views of God, and his beliefs are so beautiful that you have to listen to what he has to say. When he speaks of his son you listen as well.
And it is also a travel book. I really enjoyed his stories in this book, especially the one of his traveling in the desert in India on a camel and how it began raining while he was sitting on it, just for him to learn that the rain was the camel’s urine. When male camels are excited over a female camel, and one had just walked by, they spread their urine all over themselves by swishing their tails. And I used to think that riding a camel would be fun, and maybe it would be if it didn’t get near a female. Better yet, ride a female camel, not a male.
The picture of India that he paints is just beautiful, and he seemed to not judge its poverty but offered a solution, whereas, I judge the governments, the people, and the religions for the poverty in the world. I think that the reason India can accept the poverty is because they believe in karma, which means that these people who are dying on the streets deserve what is happening to them, it is due to their actions in a past life, and to interfere with them is to interfere with their karma, which they have to work it out by themselves. When I was in Hinduism I often wondered what kind of karma a person was gathering up themselves by not helping others. They never talked about this, and I never asked. I no longer believe in karma.
Then in one of the last chapters I realized that I had only been assuming that he wasn’t judging, because he said was bothered by the people dying in the streets, and he realized that people were giving their money to the temples and their food to Brahma by throwing it into a lake, when, instead, they could be feeding the poor. Yes.
It was also a very heartbreaking story for when he talked about the children in India, when he played with them, it was then when I felt his love for them, and in his love for them, I felt his pain over losing Michael.
So, if you love Hinduism or just wish to learn more about it, believe in psychic readings or not, or even just like travel stories, this beautifully written story may be for you. In any case, this is a very beautiful and heartwarming love story, a eulogy to his son Michael. As for me, I found this to be a hard read because death is hard for me to read about and many of the Hindu teachings deeply bother me.
June 29, 2018
You can read what this book is about in the GR description so I won't repeat. I found the travelogue part of the book humorous and highly informative. I really enjoyed reading about his experience and the diverse characters he met during his trip to India. Of course I also feel for the author's loss of his young son and I hope he has found or manages to find some degree of peace eventually.
I came to this book hoping to discover a journey of self-realisation through spirituality. But I may have misunderstood what the term "spiritual growth" used in the description inferred. When the writer started to delve into things like mediums and psychometry, I really tried to keep an open mind. Unfortunately, I was left unconvinced. I (still) simply cannot believe a medium or psychic person can move tables around a room with one finger or burn someone's arm with one look. Perhaps I'm just too familiar with James Randi's work. I also noted a degree of inconsistency between his attempted explanations of what happens after death and his wish to communicate with his dearly departed son even after so many years. I apologise to Peter Upton if my honest review has caused him further hurt, it was certainly not my intention.
I came to this book hoping to discover a journey of self-realisation through spirituality. But I may have misunderstood what the term "spiritual growth" used in the description inferred. When the writer started to delve into things like mediums and psychometry, I really tried to keep an open mind. Unfortunately, I was left unconvinced. I (still) simply cannot believe a medium or psychic person can move tables around a room with one finger or burn someone's arm with one look. Perhaps I'm just too familiar with James Randi's work. I also noted a degree of inconsistency between his attempted explanations of what happens after death and his wish to communicate with his dearly departed son even after so many years. I apologise to Peter Upton if my honest review has caused him further hurt, it was certainly not my intention.
July 1, 2024
This is a memoir of the author's search in the spirit world to communicate with his son who had died at the age of seven. The narrative is structured around a description of the author's trip from his home in London to India in order to find a sadhu who can help him find some peace of mind.
While telling of this travels in India he describes his efforts over the previous six years since his son's death trying to communicate through the use of mediumship. He had even taken lessons in the practice and had experienced some success, but he hadn't been able to communicate directly with his son as he had hoped.
Therefore he had decided to travel to India where he hoped to have more success in his efforts to reach his son. He hoped to find a rishi who could teach him to meditate at a level to experience his son's presence. Intermingled with his accounts of his search for spiritual enlightenment the author also provides the reader with his opinions regarding elements of the spirit world such as psychometry and synchronicity.
The author found on his travels that the Indians he met were more interested in his skills at giving Tarot readings than they were able to teach him about spiritual things.
While telling of this travels in India he describes his efforts over the previous six years since his son's death trying to communicate through the use of mediumship. He had even taken lessons in the practice and had experienced some success, but he hadn't been able to communicate directly with his son as he had hoped.
Therefore he had decided to travel to India where he hoped to have more success in his efforts to reach his son. He hoped to find a rishi who could teach him to meditate at a level to experience his son's presence. Intermingled with his accounts of his search for spiritual enlightenment the author also provides the reader with his opinions regarding elements of the spirit world such as psychometry and synchronicity.
The author found on his travels that the Indians he met were more interested in his skills at giving Tarot readings than they were able to teach him about spiritual things.
I had always thought of India as the land where the spiritual and the mystical are a natural part of everyday life, where astrologers and mystics plied their trade along with the fruit stallholders; perhaps my perception was distorted. (p.222)So he didn't find specifically what he was looking for, but he did have an experience that gave him a sense of peace.
I had been trying to use meditation to transport myself for a brief moment of time to a state of oneness with the spiritual realms, in the sure belief that this was where Michael now lived. I had hoped that if I could just once reach this place and feel the bliss he lived in I would be satisfied that he really was safe and happy and in no need of his dad. I hadn't got there; instead, in a back street in Pushkar, the God-force had come down and visited me and poured just an egg-cupful of its essence into me and as it had bubbled and fizzed joyfully throughout my system I knew that this was enough, I had my proof. (p.241)The author's final thoughts were written years after his trip to India. His interest in mediumship has wained, but he still has faith that he will be able to reach his son after his death.
The years have passed and with a lack of practice my abilities have faded. ... I know life continues on the other side of the door we call death and that one day I will walk through that door and be reunited with Michael and all the other people I have truly loved who might go before me. As it will be for me so also will it be for you, I am no one special. (p.247)The only reason I read this book is because it was the lone remaining unread book in my Kindle library. I don't believe in mediumship nor have I much interest in meditation as a path to spiritualism, thus I have no idea how the book ended up in my Kindle library. My best guess is that it was available free or at very low price and something about it looked interesting. The book itself is fairly interesting reading, but I give no psychic credit to the author's descriptions of what I consider to be spooky coincidences.
May 26, 2017
Even though the author lost his son some time ago, and this I can only imagine for myself, this is a pain that will never cease. I thank the good Lord above this is something I have never had to experience with my own child. An inspirational read, truly emotional on so many levels as the book itself delves into the many facets of religion and spirituality and compassion that do have oh so many levels to explore. In essence this is the exploration of all of these and more.
To try and find a connection to another plane of existence for the simple reason of trying to gain the assurance that one's offspring are happy and cared for even in the after-life or the next life or next level of existence. To most this would be a damn hard pill to swallow. In some ways it was for me.
Partially, I am not sure what I believe happens once we "pass away", truly I am not, furthermore whether it's a heaven or hell, or whether I am re-incarnated as a cat, who really knows. The spirits and the afterlife, again who really knows.
Every individual needs to have their own form of closure in these circumstances, and as such whom am I to judge the authors way of dealing with his loss. It is such a personal matter to each of us, both individually and as a whole.
Having said all of that; this is a beautiful story of a father's love for his child and his search for the closure he so desperately sought. Whether he is truly at peace so many years later is only for the author to know for certain.
My gut feeling is, I think he is relatively close to his goal of his initial journey, perhaps even all the way there.
"Be Kind."
You'll need to read the book for the reasoning behind those last two words, what a beautiful thought though; simply- "Be Kind..."
Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended read.
To try and find a connection to another plane of existence for the simple reason of trying to gain the assurance that one's offspring are happy and cared for even in the after-life or the next life or next level of existence. To most this would be a damn hard pill to swallow. In some ways it was for me.
Partially, I am not sure what I believe happens once we "pass away", truly I am not, furthermore whether it's a heaven or hell, or whether I am re-incarnated as a cat, who really knows. The spirits and the afterlife, again who really knows.
Every individual needs to have their own form of closure in these circumstances, and as such whom am I to judge the authors way of dealing with his loss. It is such a personal matter to each of us, both individually and as a whole.
Having said all of that; this is a beautiful story of a father's love for his child and his search for the closure he so desperately sought. Whether he is truly at peace so many years later is only for the author to know for certain.
My gut feeling is, I think he is relatively close to his goal of his initial journey, perhaps even all the way there.
"Be Kind."
You'll need to read the book for the reasoning behind those last two words, what a beautiful thought though; simply- "Be Kind..."
Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended read.
May 29, 2017
Firstly, i am so thankful to the author for sending me his book and giving me this priviledge to read it. Thank you so much.
As a spiritual person myself, i totally understood this journey of the author towards finding that light of divine and to know that his son is safe and truly happy even after death.
This book was a total revelation and i got engrossed in this journey with the author. I feel more enlightened after reading this novel and those words that the author said "Be kind" are so true and i intend to never let go of thi kindness.
I will keep up with my exploration of my spirituality and books that provide me with more knowledge and salvation and something to look forward to.
As a spiritual person myself, i totally understood this journey of the author towards finding that light of divine and to know that his son is safe and truly happy even after death.
This book was a total revelation and i got engrossed in this journey with the author. I feel more enlightened after reading this novel and those words that the author said "Be kind" are so true and i intend to never let go of thi kindness.
I will keep up with my exploration of my spirituality and books that provide me with more knowledge and salvation and something to look forward to.
August 22, 2016
This is such a beautiful book. So moving and yet so uplifting. Constantly switching from a travel journal through India to a deeply thought out spiritual book. I felt that I was being carried along with him on two journeys at once as he explained complicated spiritual and scientific concepts with absolute clarity while riding a camel! Sometimes sad and sometimes joyful as he focuses on his search for the son he has lost he cuts right through the outer dressing of many different religions taking the core of truth in each and linking them together into something I could believe in. It has so much in it to think about and such an atmosphere of serenity that I am now going to read it again and I have never done that before!
June 12, 2017
I don't usually write reviews, preferring to read them instead! I thought this merited my attention though!
I bought the hard copy of 'Candles on the Ganges' as I can't resist the 'new book' smell, rather than the e version. I was initially drawn to the book for its cover (painted by the author's wife I believe) - the beautiful colours and evocative imagery set the tone of the book.
The reason for the book, rather than the subject matter, is that of the death of the author's young son. The book doesn't dwell on the sadness however. Instead it focuses on the author's journey - both physical and spiritual - to seek an inner peace through spiritualism, learning how to practise what he learns, and thus ultimately bringing him closer to his son.
The author's travels through the different areas of India and his meeting of many diverse people along the way were riveting to read. The sections on the occult were also very interesting - the explanations were enlightening for a subject matter than many, including myself, find deeply mystifying.
In conclusion, I found 'Candles on the Ganges' both touching and uplifting - alternately crying and laughing. I can highly recommend this book.
I bought the hard copy of 'Candles on the Ganges' as I can't resist the 'new book' smell, rather than the e version. I was initially drawn to the book for its cover (painted by the author's wife I believe) - the beautiful colours and evocative imagery set the tone of the book.
The reason for the book, rather than the subject matter, is that of the death of the author's young son. The book doesn't dwell on the sadness however. Instead it focuses on the author's journey - both physical and spiritual - to seek an inner peace through spiritualism, learning how to practise what he learns, and thus ultimately bringing him closer to his son.
The author's travels through the different areas of India and his meeting of many diverse people along the way were riveting to read. The sections on the occult were also very interesting - the explanations were enlightening for a subject matter than many, including myself, find deeply mystifying.
In conclusion, I found 'Candles on the Ganges' both touching and uplifting - alternately crying and laughing. I can highly recommend this book.
January 25, 2023
AN ENTHRALLING JOURNEY OF ENLIGHTENMENT
In unconsolable grief, unable to accept the finality of the tragic death of his seven year old son, Michael, the author sets out on a journey through England and the farthest reaches of India seeking to bridge the worlds and reconnect with his son. It is a journey that will lead him deep into the Unexplained and the ''eternal mysteries.’’ In the fervent drive and purity of his quest, and through transformativve encounters with seers and teachers along the way, his own latent powers of healing and second sight open up.
The book is a page turner that carrries the reader along like the Ganges itself. The author’s vivid descriptions provide readers with the most tangible and immediate experiences of what are called ‘’esoteric'' phenomena as we are ever likely to get. Life-altering revelations burst brightly into flower at every few pages.
‘’…There is something like a psychic fuse that prevents us from seeing, hearing and participating in other worlds and other realities that interpenetrate with this one. Sudden shock or tragedy has the power to blow this psychic fuse and open the person up to a whole new dimension of reality; a dimension where thought has the power to affect material objects.’’ - page 28
One of the qualities that make this book so engaging is the author’s ability to render ‘’occult’’ phenomena, such as mediumship and the laying on of hands, into clear, clean prose that seamlessly merges the ‘’spiritual’’ with advanced physics, providing us with passages that could serve as chapters in a much-needed scientific textbook on esoteric phenomena.
As discoveries in physics are constantly revealing, ‘'reality'' has many realms. ‘’In my Father’s House are many mansions.’’
With the closing lines of this book I was brought to tears, but not just from the striking final words. The story uncannilly echoes my own tale, ‘'Under The Great Elm - A Life of Luck & Wonder,’’ a kind of sister book to Upton’s. ‘’Candles on the Ganges’’ reaffirmed my experiences with the phenomenon of synchronicities, the life force in all things, animate or inanimate, and the illusion of ‘’death.''
A triumphant journey of the heart, this book will bring comfort and hope to those grieving the loss of loved ones. Thank you, Peter, for taking us along on your impassioned, deeply honest, beautifully written odyssey to contact a lost son, along the way providing us with armchair enlightenment and a clearer understanding of the ‘’nature of reality.’’
.
In unconsolable grief, unable to accept the finality of the tragic death of his seven year old son, Michael, the author sets out on a journey through England and the farthest reaches of India seeking to bridge the worlds and reconnect with his son. It is a journey that will lead him deep into the Unexplained and the ''eternal mysteries.’’ In the fervent drive and purity of his quest, and through transformativve encounters with seers and teachers along the way, his own latent powers of healing and second sight open up.
The book is a page turner that carrries the reader along like the Ganges itself. The author’s vivid descriptions provide readers with the most tangible and immediate experiences of what are called ‘’esoteric'' phenomena as we are ever likely to get. Life-altering revelations burst brightly into flower at every few pages.
‘’…There is something like a psychic fuse that prevents us from seeing, hearing and participating in other worlds and other realities that interpenetrate with this one. Sudden shock or tragedy has the power to blow this psychic fuse and open the person up to a whole new dimension of reality; a dimension where thought has the power to affect material objects.’’ - page 28
One of the qualities that make this book so engaging is the author’s ability to render ‘’occult’’ phenomena, such as mediumship and the laying on of hands, into clear, clean prose that seamlessly merges the ‘’spiritual’’ with advanced physics, providing us with passages that could serve as chapters in a much-needed scientific textbook on esoteric phenomena.
As discoveries in physics are constantly revealing, ‘'reality'' has many realms. ‘’In my Father’s House are many mansions.’’
With the closing lines of this book I was brought to tears, but not just from the striking final words. The story uncannilly echoes my own tale, ‘'Under The Great Elm - A Life of Luck & Wonder,’’ a kind of sister book to Upton’s. ‘’Candles on the Ganges’’ reaffirmed my experiences with the phenomenon of synchronicities, the life force in all things, animate or inanimate, and the illusion of ‘’death.''
A triumphant journey of the heart, this book will bring comfort and hope to those grieving the loss of loved ones. Thank you, Peter, for taking us along on your impassioned, deeply honest, beautifully written odyssey to contact a lost son, along the way providing us with armchair enlightenment and a clearer understanding of the ‘’nature of reality.’’
.
January 12, 2024
Peter's prose is gripping and I loved the book from start to end. ☺️
December 13, 2018
A touching story told from the heart
I loved this simply told book. Peter answered a lot of my questions that I faced after a similar loss. At times he felt like a brother in grief and at times he felt like a wise teacher reassuring me that everything is alright. His travel journal was funny and quite true at times, and his empathy was touching. I needed this. I bought the paperback version so I could highlight parts and refer to them again.
I loved this simply told book. Peter answered a lot of my questions that I faced after a similar loss. At times he felt like a brother in grief and at times he felt like a wise teacher reassuring me that everything is alright. His travel journal was funny and quite true at times, and his empathy was touching. I needed this. I bought the paperback version so I could highlight parts and refer to them again.
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