Dr. Janez DrnovsekIt is not often that we hear about powerful politicians renouncing and becoming spiritual guru’s or ascetics, yet according to the Times newspaper this seems to be the case for Janez Drnovsek of Slovenia.

Quite an extraordinary transformation has occurred to the former communist leader of Yugoslavia, and first president of democratic Slovenia, just lately. During the last year Drnovsek has abandoned his presidential palace and headed for the hills, initially causing a great deal of mystery

for his people. He began spending long months in retreat, eating only organic vegan foods, baking his own bread and taking long walks in the woods. His only companion was his pet dog, whom unfortunately is now deceased. The people of Slovenia have expressed mixed feelings about the presidents behaviour, perhaps as they still have a prime minister and functional government, many are philosophic about the slightly eccentric behaviour. Some in fact feel his behaviour is no bad thing, at least bringing Slovenia more to international attention. Much of the presidents talk about the quest for higher consciousness, and striving to find more in life than materialism, has a widespread appeal in these days of capitalist doctrines and globalisation. His recent attempts to broker peace in Darfur, though ineffective, were at least an example of the kind of behaviour most Europeans would like to see from their own statesmen.

The president now writes a Blog, as well as books and other literature, recently founding a progressive organisation known as the Movement for Justice and Development which some suspect may yet become an alternative minded political party, perhaps like our own Green party (or maybe like the old Monster Raving Loony Party?). 

Personally I recognise that there is often a thin line between spiritual realisations and certain degrees of mental breakdown, being diagnosed with terminal cancer is a lot for anyone to deal with. It does seem to me that in this case the shock genuinely caused a personal identity crisis, this rather straight laced and uptight former communist re-examined the meaning of his life and the way the world functions. His conclusion was that there were hidden aspects of his inner self well worth investigating, and he prioritised this over his role as a national figurehead. Some of what he is now saying is a little incoherent it seems (I am rather reliant on other translations), but much of it is in harmony with the voices of  other spiritually minded persons worldwide. Yes, we are headed towards environmental disaster if we carry on with our materialistic path, and yes we do have facets of self well worth exploring. His self proclaimed quest for higher consciousness is in itself sensible enough, and should make fascinating monitoring during the months to come.


By Bruce