Teamwork story: The difference between heaven and hell

A monk was deep in his prayers when, suddenly, an angel appeared before him. The angel’s presence was radiant, filling the room with a warm and gentle light. The angel spoke with a voice both kind and powerful, offering the monk the chance to glimpse any of the divine mysteries. The monk, filled with awe, bowed his head and humbly requested, “Show me Heaven and Hell.” At once, the scene around them changed. The monk found himself in a vast banquet hall. A grand table stretched endlessly before him, overflowing with every delicacy imaginable. There were golden-brown roasted turkeys, steaming loaves of bread with rich butter, fresh fruits, and decadent cakes. The scent was heavenly, yet something felt terribly wrong. The monk looked closer and noticed the people seated at the table. Their faces were pale, their bodies thin and frail. Despite the feast before them, they wailed in hunger and despair. The monk then saw why: each person was shackled to their chair, and their arms were bound with rigid metal rods, making it impossible to bend their elbows. They clumsily grasped at the food, desperately trying to feed themselves, but every attempt ended in failure. Food fell from their hands again and again, leaving them starving in front of an untouched feast. Their suffering was unbearable. The angel looked at the monk with solemn eyes and said, “This is Hell.” The monk turned away, deeply shaken. “I cannot bear to watch their suffering any longer,” he said. “Please, show me Heaven.”

At once, the banquet hall faded, replaced by another. To the monk’s astonishment, this new hall looked nearly identical to the first. The table was just as grand, filled with the same delicious foods. The people, too, were bound to their chairs, their arms fixed with the same rigid rods. But here, the air was different. Instead of cries of hunger and despair, there was laughter and joyful conversation. The people here looked well-fed, healthy, and content. They sang as they ate, their faces glowing with happiness. The monk looked closer and suddenly understood the difference.* Instead of struggling to feed themselves, each person was picking up food and offering it to their neighbor. In turn, their neighbor did the same. Instead of selfishly trying and failing to satisfy only themselves, they chose to help each other. And because of this, everyone ate. Everyone thrived. The angel turned to the monk and smiled. “This is Heaven.” The monk stood in silence, the weight of the lesson settling deep in his heart. Both Heaven and Hell had the same conditions and the same limitations. The only difference was how the people responded. In Hell, they had thought only of themselves, leading to endless suffering. In Heaven, they had thought of each other, creating harmony and abundance. The angel’s voice was gentle but firm. “Heaven and Hell are not places far away. They exist wherever people choose how to treat one another. When we act selfishly, we create our own suffering. But when we act with kindness and help one another, we create joy and peace.” The vision faded, and the monk found himself back in his place of prayer. Though he had not moved, his heart had traveled far. He now understood that the power to create Heaven or Hell lay in the hands of humanity. With this wisdom, he rose, ready to share this lesson with all who would listen.