 In 1940 he enrolled as a cadet in nautical school and joined the British Merchant Navy during World War II.At sea, Hills had several life and death experiences that formed his views on karma, divinity and destiny.On one occasion a rogue wave swept him off the deck hundreds of yards (metres) away from the vessel, but another wave picked him up and threw him back onto the ship, cutting open his forehead but saving him from freezing to death.