When Sir C.P. Shrivastava, in the early seventies, was elected Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization of the United Nations, nobody had the slightest clue that this would be a date of particular significance in the calendar of spirituality. And this is because, through moving his family to London, seat of the IMO, his wife came with him and started manifesting to the almost lost generation of Western seekers, the redeeming powers of Kundalini awakening and Self-Realization.

Gurjieff wrote about his encounter with extraordinary men. This book is the story of an encounter with a more than extraordinary woman, a spiritual master with powers of mythical dimension that were revealed in the benign and gracious countenance of someone who appeared to be a diplomat's wife.

The author, then twenty-five years old, spent some unique moments of discovery and revelation with Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. The historic value of this recollection and the reflections that follow find their value in the many privileged hours spent with this primordial Mother and Master. Her teachings and meditation praxis are now recognized by large numbers of people all around the world.

The Advent, an account of the author's experiences, was first published, privately in 1979 in India. It quickly went out of print, and unaccountably, the English language version in which it was first written, remained out of print for over 15 years.

The book is a 'must read' for any student of spirituality and Sahaja Yoga. It is a revolutionary book, the first to propose and describe a new category of perception, vibratory awareness, beyond thought, feelings or instinct, by which all kinds of absolute questions are answered.

The Advent was written by G. G. Kalbermatten, under the direct guidance of Shri Mataji herself. The original manuscript shows a number of sections revised by Shri Mataji in her own handwriting.