Sole man: Balendu Goswami says he would consider repeating his three-year cave retreat PHOTO: JONATHAN GOLDBERG

Balendu Goswami looked at himself in the mirror to see somebody he no longer recognised. He could hear voices talking nearby, voices that seemed to be amplified to almost deafening levels.

Everything around him seemed so bright and alien almost as if it was not real.

His reaction to everyday life was hardly surprising. Balendu had not seen, let alone spoken, to another human for more than three years.

The 30-year-old lived in a cave in the holy city of Vrindaban, India, from September 1997 to December 2000.

"There was no lighting, no heating, no contact with the outside world and not a single soul in sight," he said. "Food was delivered occasionally."

His self-imposed exile was a way for the renowned spiritual leader to carry out his beliefs to the fullest extent. All he had for company were his scriptures.

"I entered the cave in September 1997," he said. "Before I went in, I told my disciples, followers and family that I did not wish to be told of any things that may affect me.

"I wanted no messages, no news inside me. I never even saw a bird or sunlight and had no communication with anyone.

"As I entered, they sealed the entrance with concrete, so there was no way out. I stayed there for three years, doing only my prayer and meditation.

"Eventually, I decided to leave. But as I went to leave, my God spoke to me and asked me to stay longer. I stayed there for another 108 days.

"There were thousands of people waiting outside, but I thought I must stay."

His departure from society was related to a practice known in Hinduism as Maun. It is a period of silence that allows the individual time for contemplation, a way of clearing the mind through blocking out all worldly distractions.

"To do this, you must not speak," explained Balendu. "But I wanted more. I thought: when I stop my tongue from working, my eyes still work, my ears still work'. I was still attached to the world.

"I wanted nothing from my eyes and ears as well as my tongue; to be totally detached."

Balendu said his self-imposed retreat was not about religion but fulfilling his spirituality and learning to love. "If you have love in your heart, you can love anything."

Picking up a pillow, he said: "You can love this pillow." Pointing to a table, he adds: "You can love this table."

Two years on, and Balendu's surroundings could not be more different from his cave retreat. He has been staying in a small house in Greenbank Crescent, Hendon, just off the busy Great North Way, with an accountant friend, Sanjeev Dave, 31, and his wife, Jayshree.

Sanjeev offered him the accommodation so he could come and talk about his beliefs to people in the UK after the two met at one of his lectures last year.

For Sanjeev, it was something of an honour, as Balendu lectures to audiences of around 5,000 when he is in India.

"I would be recognised in India. There are many, many people who come to see me," explained Balendu. "They come to listen to my beliefs on love, life and how the two cannot be separated. I also heal people. I give them spiritual healing healing through love.

"When I am not with my followers, I will speak to them by email," he added.

Balendu has now left Hendon but will be returning at the end of the month, before moving on once more, this time to Trinidad.

And, although there are no immediate plans, a return to his cave sanctuary remains a possibility.

"I enjoyed my time in the cave," he said. "I had no difficulties, no problems.

"All is okay. I would do it again."

3:11pm Tuesday 10th September 2002

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