My husband, Rajiv, and I have shared a long and meaningful relationship with Andre Vaillancourt and his late wife, Jessica. Our connection dates back through several Kumbh Melas, where we met frequently. We crossed paths at yagyas across India, in the Himalayan ashrams of revered yogis, and at the Kumbh camps of many saints and renunciates we all held dear.

We would often stay in different parts of the sanyas kshetra—the areas designated for Shaivite renunciates. And sometimes, rarely, we would find ourselves in the cities at the same time, reconnecting in the unlikely sophistication of fine dining spaces. In these encounters, another facet of our lives would quietly unfold.

Over the years, we stayed in touch through email. During the most challenging months of the COVID-19 pandemic, we found strength in online satsangs, supporting each other as we navigated those uncertain times. We remained connected, sharing the rhythms of our lives, reflecting on spiritual insights, and exchanging meaningful learnings while living in parallel realities that intersected at profound crossroads.

One day, Andre reached out to me with a request—to read an early draft of his magnum opus, a spiritual fiction trilogy. The work is rooted in his decades-long spiritual quest, one that took him around the globe, completing karmic cycles and seeking deeper truths. A seasoned storyteller with years of experience in filmmaking, Andre has a natural gift for weaving drama with the delicate emotions of human relationships.

Though fictional, the characters in this trilogy are vivid and real—often inspired by Andre’s own extraordinary life and encounters. His journey, situated at the confluence of multiple cultures, has been both immersive and detached, providing rich soil for this narrative to flourish. The book is a meeting place—where readers encounter Andre once again, between the pages.

Andre’s spiritual journey formally began in 1981, when he met his guru, Count Andrew Da Passano, an Italian mystic, in Los Angeles. He remained with him until his passing in 1993, studying meditation and esotericism drawn from Tibetan tantra, psycho-cybernetics, and quantum physics. Later, Andre delved deeply into Eastern mysticism, returning to India every year.

Though a true global citizen, Andre has always felt an inexplicable spiritual connection with India. His sanskars—inherent impressions—have been evident to those who know him. Through his guru, he met his beloved Jessica in 1984. She became his muse and life partner until her passing in 2024. Their relationship was one of deep closeness and mutual freedom, marked by a rare, enduring companionship. She was his undistorted mirror—through her, he could see himself clearly. Together, they embraced life’s experiences with openness, as Andre stilled the mind, mastered the senses, and contemplated life’s most profound questions.

Andre’s artistic path has also been wide and flowing—like the many tributaries of a great river. His creative journey began in France as a musician, where he flourished for a decade. He later transitioned to film and television in Hollywood, working as a writer, cameraman, editor, director, and producer. His love for storytelling runs deep—intuitive, evocative, and ever-evolving.

—
Romola Butalia
Author of In the Presence of the Masters
and Sri Babaji: Immortal Yogi of the Himalayas