You may choose to get on an airplane to London, but once the plane takes off, you can no longer choose a different destination; you’ll have to get off in London. Still, you can make new choices as to what you do while you’re on the plane and after your arrival.

This simple analogy says much about life. We are responsible for our choices. Whatever reactions we are presently undergoing due to past choices, we can choose to respond in a way that will be beneficial for ourselves and those around us. That is how we shape our future.

Wisdom is nourished by accepting good guidance, learning from mistakes, then moving forward in a positive direction. The tendency to stagnate due to guilt, frustration or depression can be overcome by uplifting company and positive choices. .

It is important that we establish goals, values, and priorities in our lives. Like a captain in a ship at sea keeps his attention on his compass, we need to be attentive to

our moral compass, especially to help us navigate through stormy times.

On the boat of life, you may not have control over which way the wind blows, but you do have control over the sails and how you are going to respond to the winds of change. We cannot always change our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond. If we focus too much on cannot be changed it leads to frustration, however if we focus on what we can change, it leads to growth.

Choice of words can make or break a relationship, choice of timing can affect the outcome of our pursuits, a choice of diet and exercise can determine our health, and a choice of our consciousness can change our experience of life.

Our choices create impressions in the mind that enable us to act beneficially even in challenging times, almost like a second nature. If we perspire in a time of peace, it can protect us from bleeding in a time of conflict, in other words if we make the right choices when things are going well, it gives us inner strength to make the right choices when things are not going so well.

Srila Prabhupada has written, “The greatness of a person can be estimated by how they respond to provoking situations.”

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Published on July 28, 2019 09:52

January 5, 2019

Radhanath Swami speaks at United Kingdom’s Government Official Diwali Event 2018

On 15th of November 2018, Radhanath Swami spoke at the UK government’s official Diwali event at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The event was attended by 250 people, all leaders in the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities from across the U.K.

Radhanath Swami spoke alongside Philip May, the Prime Ministers husband and the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The event was scheduled to happen at Number 10, Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s official residence, but was relocated to the prestigious Durbur Hall of the Foriegn Office as Theresa May was caught up in discussions around the U.K. leaving the European Union.

Radhanath Swami lead the room in prayer and then spoke on how every living being is connected to God, and with this connection comes the light of compassion: “One single flame can light thousands of lamps.”

Both Mr May and Mr Brockenshire, amongst a handful of dignitaries there, were grateful to receive Radhanath Swami’s books, “The Journey Home” and “The Journey Within”.