The Parable of the Two Kingdoms: A Tale of Thought | 1being

The Parable of the Two Kingdoms: A Tale of Thought and Conflict

Once upon a time, in a land of vast plains and towering mountains, there were two neighboring kingdoms: the Kingdom of the Sun and the Kingdom of the Moon. For many generations, these two realms lived in peace, each basking in its own beauty and prosperity. The Kingdom of the Sun was known for its bright, golden fields and warm-hearted people, while the Kingdom of the Moon was celebrated for its cool silver lakes and its people’s wisdom.

However, over time, something began to change. The rulers of both kingdoms grew suspicious of one another. The King of the Sun believed that the Moon people coveted his golden fields, and the Queen of the Moon feared that the Sun people desired her silver lakes. These fears were not based on any direct threat or experience, but on whispers, assumptions, and old stories told by the elders, long forgotten by reason.

In the quiet of their minds, these rulers allowed their thoughts to take root—thoughts of mistrust, fear, and even anger. The more they pondered these dark thoughts, the more they believed them to be true. “We must act before they attack us,” thought the King of the Sun. “We must strike first to protect what is ours,” decided the Queen of the Moon. Their minds, now clouded with these suspicions, no longer saw their neighbors as fellow rulers but as threats.

Soon enough, these thoughts of fear and aggression spread like wildfire throughout both kingdoms. The citizens, once peaceful, began to mirror the anxieties of their leaders. Soldiers were trained, weapons were forged, and both kingdoms prepared for battle. Though neither side had been attacked, each believed they had no choice but to fight, to protect themselves from an imagined danger.

The day of the great battle arrived. Both armies stood facing each other across the wide plains that divided the two realms. The air was thick with tension, the ground trembling beneath the weight of countless soldiers. But just as the trumpets of war were about to sound, something unexpected happened.

A young girl, dressed in rags, walked between the two armies. Her steps were small, her face calm. She carried with her a simple lantern, its light flickering softly in the morning breeze. The soldiers, startled by her sudden appearance, paused, unsure of what to do.

She spoke, her voice steady but quiet: “Why do you fight?”

The commanders of both armies stepped forward, confused by the question. “We fight to protect ourselves!” they both declared.

The girl shook her head. “But who has harmed you? What have you lost?”

Neither commander could answer. There had been no actual attack, no real offense. The conflict had all been born from their thoughts, from the seeds of suspicion planted in their minds.

“You are not fighting for protection,” the girl said softly. “You are fighting the shadows of your own thoughts.”

She raised her lantern, and in its light, the leaders of both armies saw a different reality. They saw that the Kingdom of the Sun’s golden fields still flourished, untouched. The Kingdom of the Moon’s silver lakes were just as serene, unspoiled by any foreign hand. There had been no invasion, no attack, no threat—only fear that had grown into an imagined war.

The girl continued, “Your thoughts have created this battle. You allowed fear to guide your actions instead of trust and reason. You have created enemies where there were none.”

Slowly, the soldiers lowered their weapons. The leaders of both kingdoms, humbled by the truth, realized that their conflict had been born entirely from the power of their unexamined thoughts. They had nurtured the wrong seeds—those of fear, anger, and suspicion—and nearly destroyed the peace that had been their reality for generations.

Unpacking the Parable:

This parable of the Two Kingdoms illustrates how wars of aggression, conflict, and division often begin—not with external threats, but with internal thoughts that go unexamined and unchecked. The Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon were never actually in danger; their fear and mistrust were self-created, born from thoughts that grew into destructive beliefs.

Thoughts as the Source of Conflict:

Q’uo teaches, “You create and recreate the self through the power of your thoughts. You create and recreate the world.” In the parable, the rulers allowed thoughts of suspicion and fear to dominate their minds. These thoughts then shaped their actions, leading their people toward an unnecessary conflict. In the real world, the same dynamic often plays out: thoughts of fear and mistrust between individuals, groups, or nations can escalate into actual conflict.

Q'uo also reminds us that "the lack of awareness and the inability to disidentify from thoughts have created runaway conditions of warfare, suffering, and degradation." When we do not question our own thoughts, we risk creating unnecessary pain and chaos, both for ourselves and for others. This is how entire societies and nations can become trapped in cycles of war and aggression, driven by unhealed thought patterns rooted in trauma, fear, and misunderstanding.

The Power of Awareness:

The girl in the parable represents the power of awareness, the ability to step back and see the thoughts for what they are—constructs of the mind, not necessarily reflections of reality. She helps both kingdoms see that their fears were unfounded, that their conflict was self-created. This moment of awakening, of becoming aware of one’s own thoughts, is a crucial step in breaking the cycle of conflict and returning to peace.

Q’uo encourages, "Become conscious and aware of your thoughts… carefully cultivating those that are nourishing." By becoming mindful of the thoughts we entertain—whether they are thoughts of fear or love, separation or unity—we can choose to create a world that reflects the highest good, rather than perpetuating cycles of violence and separation.

Cultivating Thought Like a Garden:

The parable also reflects Q’uo’s advice to treat thoughts like seeds in a garden. Just as the rulers of the two kingdoms unknowingly nurtured seeds of fear and aggression, we, too, must be mindful of the thoughts we cultivate. Some thoughts, like seeds of love and compassion, grow into beautiful and nourishing plants. Others, like seeds of fear and anger, grow into weeds that choke out harmony and peace.

We must learn, as Q’uo says, to “nurture, support, and encourage that which is nourishing to the self and the community,” and to “carefully and respectfully guard against or even remove that which is not nourishing.” This doesn’t mean forcefully repressing negative thoughts but becoming aware of them and gently releasing them before they take root and spread, as Isara does in her garden.

Key Points for Seekers:

Thoughts Shape Reality: Just as the two kingdoms created a war from thoughts of fear, our thoughts have the power to shape our personal and collective realities. By becoming aware of our thoughts, we can prevent unnecessary conflicts and create a more peaceful world.
Examine the Roots of Fear: Fear often arises from unexamined thoughts and assumptions. When we are willing to look deeply at our thoughts and question whether they are based on truth or illusion, we can free ourselves from destructive patterns.
Cultivate Peaceful Thoughts: Just as the girl in the parable illuminated the truth with her lantern, awareness of our thoughts allows us to see which ones are based on love and which are rooted in fear. By cultivating thoughts of compassion, trust, and unity, we can create a harmonious inner and outer reality.
Recognize Collective Responsibility: The conflicts and wars we see in the world are not just external events; they are often reflections of unhealed collective thought patterns. By healing our own minds, we contribute to the healing of the larger world.

Conclusion:

The parable of the Two Kingdoms reminds us of the immense power of thought to create either conflict or peace. When we become aware of our thoughts and choose to cultivate those that are rooted in love, compassion, and understanding, we can prevent the seeds of fear and aggression from taking root. In this way, we not only transform our personal reality but contribute to the healing and peace of the world at large. By tending to the garden of our mind, we can plant seeds that bear the fruit of harmony, unity, and love.