The world will become peaceful, beautiful and abundant
IF WE WORK TOGETHER IN UNISON

Many ships of different sizes were crossing a very choppy ocean in roughly the same direction, heading for a beautiful island far away in the distance. They had heard that the island was like paradise, so this was their goal.

Some ships were more like boats - small and open. The passengers sat silently with their heads bowed, or they chanted low incantations or mantras. They were mostly in fear, not daring to look up, although they were very aware of the large waves, and there was great tension in their bodies.

One ship was very large, carrying a great number of soldiers in uniform, accompanied by families who said very little and who did as was expected of them. A brass band was playing triumphant music, and this was accompanied by flag hoisting, followed by speeches. No-one really noticed the size of the waves at all, as the ship was so big and powerful, and because their attention was focused elsewhere.

On a fairly large cruise ship, everyone was on the party deck, dancing and drinking, so they did not notice the waves either. If they fell over, they put it down to their alcohol intake. On yet another ship, the waves were not noticed either: the course was on automatic, because EVERYONE WAS ASLEEP IN THEIR BEDS.

On one of the smaller ships, the SHIP OF UNITY, the passengers were all alert. They were well organised, helped each other, and showed understanding in all difficult circumstances. Those who were afraid were comforted, those who were hungry were fed. The children were told stories and the old were cared for. It was clear that they had to weather this ordeal together, as there was no option of leaving the ship. There were always at least two lookouts at the prow of the ship, scouring the horizon for danger, and watching the water for rocks. They all worked in unison and communicated frequently.

Suddenly the storm worsened, and the view of the island in the distance was completely blocked. It was almost as if a bank of solid mist had descended, except that this was actually a row of swirling whirlwinds. There was only just enough room to pass between two whirlwinds, and it was clear that this had to be very carefully navigated and could only be achieved through joint effort.

The look-outs on the SHIP OF UNITY immediately saw the whirlwinds and attempted to sound the alarm by ringing bells. Everyone in their own ship held themselves in a state of readiness while continuing to attend to everyone’s basic needs, but the other ships did not hear the bells. The brass band on the very large military ship and the loud music on the cruise ship drowned the sound of the alarm. The small boats heard the alarm but ignored it out of fear and only bent their heads further, praying more fervently than ever that they might be saved. And the others heard nothing because they were asleep.

This meant that the majority of boats simply continued to steer directly for the whirlwinds and were caught up by them. They were held there, twirling slowly, by a strong force, as if captured within a strong and stable magnetic field. Only the SHIP OF UNITY managed to avoid the whirlwinds. As they looked back, they saw the other ships had failed to do so. They felt great sorrow, as they felt they had not managed to warn them in time, but they knew also that they had done their best.

The ship reached the shores of the beautiful island and everyone cried and fell onto the sandy shore in relief that the journey was over. The emotions which had been largely kept under wraps during the journey were now all released. They seemed, now, to have a new perspective and a new way of seeing.

When the survivors turned around to look at the whirlwinds, they saw that they were actually great, lighted beings deliberately whipping up the winds to test incoming ships. The number of ships now approaching was huge, and the lighted beings had an enormous task. The people on shore understood that they had passed some sort of test and that they were now to proceed down a path into the forest. This path was lined by more angels, bowing in acknowledgement of their achievement. At the end of the path was the largest lighted being of all, who embraced everyone in turn and brought them all to a place of rest to recover from their experience.