Bible Parables S1E5 -- The Parable Of The Ten Virgins

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Now five of them were wise and five were foolish.

Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them.

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

But while the bridegroom was delayed,

They all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight a cry was heard,

Behold,

The bridegroom is coming,

Go out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said to the wise,

Give us some of your oil,

For our lamps are going out.

But the wise answered,

Saying,

No,

Lest there should not be enough for us and you.

But go rather to those who sell and buy for yourself.

And while they went to buy,

The bridegroom came,

And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding,

And the door was shut.

Afterwards the other virgins came also,

Saying,

Lord,

Lord,

Open to us.

But he answered and said,

Assuredly,

I say to you,

I do not know you.

Watch therefore,

For you know neither the day nor the hour in which the son of man is coming.

So on the face of it,

The main model of this parable is essentially preparedness,

Being prepared.

That's the central theme that comes out when I first read this parable.

That's the central theme that comes out,

Being prepared.

Let's look now at the same parable and let's go through it line by line and look at it from a more spiritual or the more mystical perspective.

And let's see what meaning it has for us.

So the parable starts,

Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lambs and went out to meet the bridegroom.

The kingdom of heaven.

What does the kingdom of heaven mean to you?

For some people,

The kingdom of heaven could be having good relationships.

For some people,

The kingdom of heaven could be having a secure job.

For some,

The kingdom of heaven could look like having a great circle of friends to hang around with,

To share their joys and their sorrows with.

So the kingdom of heaven,

What does the kingdom of heaven mean to you?

And the virgins,

The virgins could represent us,

All of us,

Individual souls who are on a spiritual journey.

The lamp,

The lamp could symbolize our inner light or our consciousness.

And the bridegroom could represent the divine presence or an awaited spiritual realization.

And going out to meet the bridegroom could signify our intention to seek the divine and prepare ourselves to encounter a higher truth or come to a spiritual awakening or the spiritual realization.

And what could a spiritual realization mean?

A spiritual realization could simply mean waking up,

Seeing that there is a better way,

A different way to do things,

Seeing that you need not repeat the same mistakes you have been repeating all along.

Are we consciously cultivating our inner light?

And a good way to cultivate our inner light is to start the day by stating an intention or by setting an intention to stay connected to our higher purpose and to be open to moments of spiritual awareness.

Now you can imagine you and your friends are all preparing for a big event,

Maybe starting a business or maybe going on a spiritual retreat or even maybe organizing a party or a get-together.

And each person is responsible for bringing their own supplies.

So the lamp could symbolize our skills,

Our preparation,

Our mindset.

And the bridegroom could represent our goal or our purpose or our awakening.

Let's say we are building a career or we are preparing to start a career or we are starting to prepare for something new rather than focusing only on the external steps.

So in the case of career,

One of the external steps could be building a resume.

We also need to make sure we are cultivating our inner resources,

Our patience,

Our persistence,

Our resilience,

So that when opportunity arises,

We can be truly ready.

Now five of them were wise and five were foolish.

And this distinction is about our inner readiness.

The wise are those who cultivate their spiritual lives consistently,

Who live with awareness.

Whereas the foolish are the ones who become complacent,

Who become distracted or who tend to neglect their inner growth.

You can think of it as,

It is not as dividing people into two sets,

But about reflecting that duality that is within us.

Because sometimes our minds move towards foolish thoughts,

Non-supportive thoughts,

Negative thoughts.

And sometimes our mind moves towards positive thoughts.

So we could ask ourselves throughout the day,

Am I being wise or foolish in my choices right now?

Am I being wise or foolish in the way I'm thinking right now?

Am I nourishing my spirit or am I simply being driven by distractions or by superficial desires?

Like two types of students preparing for an exam.

The wise,

They start studying weeks in advance,

They break down the materials,

They ensure that they are not cramming,

But they are trying to understand that material deeply.

And then you have the foolish who procrastinate,

Who think they can just pull a couple of all-nighters and get by with simply learning on the surface level.

The same external tools might be available to both,

But what sets them apart are their inner attitude.

You can reflect on your daily habits,

Or when we reflect on our daily habits,

Are we nurturing emotional stability and mental focus every day?

Or simply reacting to events as they take place?

And leaning towards starting to make small daily choices that support our growth.

Those who are foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them.

And the oil here could symbolize the reservoir of our spiritual energy,

Our faith,

Our inner wisdom which sustains our soul's light.

And without it,

We become depleted,

Our light dims.

The foolish did not plan for the long journey.

They thought that just the surface appearances,

Just having the lamp with enough oil was enough.

They neglected the need to have more of the inner substance,

More of the oil.

Think about when you're going on a hike.

You have the foolish hiker who brings a very flashy backpack,

Brings hiking poles,

Brings but forgets the most important item,

Getting a sufficient amount of water.

Because without water,

Even the best equipment becomes useless.

So in life also,

We might have outward success like high paying jobs or impressive credentials.

But if we lack that inner contentment,

That joy or that sense of purpose,

The journey will just simply be exhausting and will not be sustainable.

So if you feel at times that you're feeling drained or you're feeling unfulfilled,

It could be a sign that your lamp is burning without oil.

So at that time,

Leaning towards those small but meaningful habits like making some entries in the gratitude journal or setting a time aside for hobbies,

This can restore your inner strength.

This can replenish the oil.

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps and the wise prepare.

They understand that spiritual fuel is essential for maintaining that connection with the divine.

Spiritual fuel is essential for having that high quality of life,

For having that consistent peace and serenity.

Spiritual fuel is needed so that that inner light remains steady.

Like you're preparing for the big presentation.

And you have the wise colleague who not only has made those beautiful slideshows,

But has also practiced repeatedly,

Who has anticipated what other questions could be asked.

How can I answer those questions?

Who prepares for all the different scenarios?

So the oil here,

It represents our emotional readiness,

Our mental clarity,

Our confidence.

And when the time comes,

We can move through difficult moments smoothly because we prepare ourselves from the inside.

So for any significant event,

Whether it's a speech,

Whether it's an interview,

Whether it's a family gathering,

Don't focus on what you will do,

But try to prepare your state of mind before a challenging conversation.

Take a few moments to breathe deeply,

To set a positive intention,

To gather your thoughts.

But while the bridegroom was delayed,

They all slumbered and slept.

And in our lives,

There will always be these times of waiting when nothing seems to happen,

Where everything is quiet and this is natural.

And during these times,

Even the wise sleep,

Even the wise rest.

But the key is to be,

To remain internally prepared.

These periods will test our patience.

These periods will reveal whether our preparation is genuine or is just on the surface level.

At any time when you're experiencing spiritual dryness or you're experiencing spiritual delay,

Remind yourself that waiting is a part of the journey and use these moments to deepen your trust,

To refine your inner light rather than become discouraged.

Like training for the marathon,

Training for the marathon that keeps getting postponed.

Usually everyone is training,

Everyone gets tired and they all need a break.

Even the wise take a break.

But the difference is that the wise remain mentally prepared.

They stay consistent,

They incorporate light exercise,

Healthy habits,

Whereas the foolish will just completely abandon their training.

So if you're waiting for a major opportunity to come by like a job offer,

A spiritual breakthrough or maybe a resolution to a personal problem,

Don't become complacent.

Keep nurturing your inner strength to the small acts of faith,

To the daily routines that you have been doing and use these periods of waiting to build patience and trust in the process.

And at midnight a cry was heard,

Behold the bridegroom is coming,

Go out and meet him.

The unexpected arrival at midnight.

This represents the suddenness of spiritual awakening or a sudden transformation.

Spiritual opportunities and sometimes even other opportunities can come when we least expect them.

Sometimes they can come even at our darkest and the most challenging of times.

So it's about cultivating awareness,

Awareness so that we can respond when opportunities for growth arise,

Especially when these opportunities arise unexpectedly.

Staying open to new insights even when circumstances seem inconvenient,

Even when circumstances are difficult.

A sudden opportunity that arises out of nowhere like an unexpected job offer or the chance encounter with someone who changes your life or the profound realization during a mundane moment.

This arrival at midnight represents those sudden moments of change,

The sudden moments of change that demand you to be awake and alert.

So it's about developing alertness and flexibility.

A good way to develop alertness and flexibility is to practice,

Practice being present and aware even when you're doing routine tasks.

Like you're stuck in traffic or you're waiting in a queue.

You can take that time to reflect,

You can take that time to listen to something inspiring.

Because when we train ourselves to notice the smaller things,

We can be ready when the bigger moments in life arise.

Then all the virgins rose and trim their lamps.

Because when the call comes,

Both people who are prepared and people who are unprepared both respond.

And trimming the lamp,

Lamps mean adjusting our perception,

Clearing out distractions,

Refocusing on what truly matters,

Trimming the lamp to make sure the light shines correctly.

So make it a regular practice to clear your mind of clutter,

To release unnecessary thoughts,

Focus on what aligns you with your higher purpose,

To keep your inner flame clear and unobstructed.

So trimming our lamps,

There are those times where our mind is all over the place,

We feel scattered,

Our minds feel scattered.

What you could do at those points is to pause and trim that mental clutter.

Can trim the mental clutter by making a list,

By sorting out what is important,

What is not important.

Before starting a big task,

Eliminate distractions,

Turn off notifications,

Clear your workspace,

Take a few deep breaths,

Approach every challenge with clarity and focus,

Trim your lamps.

And the foolish said to the wise,

Give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out.

Inner reserves cannot be borrowed.

Each person,

Each one of us has a unique spiritual journey and no one can give you their inner readiness.

I can share with you a pencil,

I can lend you my car,

I can let you stay in my house,

But I cannot share my inner preparedness with you.

So we can share our guidance,

We can share our support,

But our inner light has to be cultivated by us.

So recognizing that our true inner work cannot be outsourced,

We need to take responsibility for our own lives.

We need to stop looking to others to fix our lives,

But we need to take responsibility and start doing the work ourselves.

It's like these runners running a race and there are some athletes who haven't hydrated properly and they start asking for others for their water.

But when running a marathon,

Sharing too much water might deplete the person sharing the water.

And similarly,

Your spiritual energy,

Your preparedness cannot be transferred.

So respect your emotional and spiritual limits.

If a friend is overwhelmed and asks for support,

Help them to find the resources.

But don't exhaust yourself trying to carry their burden.

Offer them guidance,

But also encourage them to build your own strength.

But the wise answered saying,

No,

Lest there should not be enough for us and you,

But go rather to those who sell and buy for yourself.

And don't look at this as selfishness,

But look at this as spiritual integrity.

Because giving away your spiritual energy indiscriminately can deplete you.

Instead,

Point others towards the source of inner light,

Their own practice,

Their faith,

Their wisdom,

Establish healthy boundaries.

It's okay to prioritize your own inner well-being and support.

Offer support to others,

But let others take responsibility for their own well-being.

And while they went to buy,

The bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding and the door was shut.

And this transformation can come at any time.

And those who procrastinate or neglect,

They might miss their moment of awakening.

Like you're preparing for the dream job interview and when the call comes,

Someone who's prepared,

They immediately rush and they seize that opportunity.

But the person who's unprepared,

They start searching for references,

They run around trying to print their CV and they miss their slot.

So it's about living proactively,

Being prepared,

Not waiting for the health crisis to come to start to focus on your exercise and your nutrition.

Not waiting for a relationship to deteriorate to start giving it the attention it deserves.

Not pushing yourself towards burnout to realize that it is important to focus on yourself and take self-care.

So be spiritually prepared.

And afterwards,

The other virgins came also saying,

Lord,

Lord,

Open to us.

This plea reflects regret on not valuing the journey earlier.

So start investing in spiritual practices now,

Whether it's meditation,

Personal reflection,

Connecting with loved ones.

Start connecting with those practices now.

Don't wait for the wake up call.

But he answered and said,

Assuredly,

I say to you,

I do not know you.

And this symbolizes is the threshold of spiritual realization.

It's like you're trying to rejoin a project which you abandoned months ago.

The whole team has moved on and your absence creates this disconnect.

So in spirituality,

Not being recognized means not having built that genuine connection that brings that deeper understanding.

So start to engage,

Build an authentic relationship with your own inner self and with those around you.

Watch therefore for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the son of man is coming.

And this is the ultimate teaching.

It is vigilance.

Staying awake to the deeper reality,

Staying awake to life's unpredictability,

Living with awareness,

Living with presence,

Living with a heart full of gratitude.

Because most of life's profound moments are unpredictable,

A sudden insight,

An unexpected tragedy or the life altering decision,

We should always stay awake to the unpredictability of life.

So we'll go now into the guided reflective meditation based on the parable.

So settle into a comfortable position.

If you're sitting,

Let yourself sink a little deeper into the chair.

If you're sleeping,

Feel your body simply sink into the bed.

And if it is safe to do so,

You can close your eyes and take three deep breaths slowly and deeply,

Inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth,

Releasing any tension.

With each breath,

Feel your body relax.

Feel yourself get more grounded.

And now bring your attention inward.

Center your awareness in this present moment.

Imagine you are standing in a serene,

Peaceful landscape at the edge of a small village.

The air is cool and still.

The sky is painted with hues of twilight.

In the distance,

You can see a group of 10 figures,

Each holding a softly glowing lamp.

You are one of them,

One of the 10.

Feel the gentle weight of your lamp in your hand.

Notice the steady flame dancing within it,

Casting a warm,

Soft glow around you.

This lamp represents your inner light,

Your consciousness,

Your faith,

Your spiritual wisdom.

Take a moment to examine the oil inside your lamp.

Is it abundant and clear?

Or is it low,

Cloudy,

Or nearly empty?

This oil symbolizes your spiritual reserves,

Your inner strength,

Your practices of self-care and devotion.

Reflect on the practices and choices that sustain your soul.

If your lamp is full,

Feel gratitude for the habits and routines that nurture you.

Visualize these as small vials of oil,

Daily gratitude,

Moments of prayer,

Quiet times of meditation,

Or acts of kindness.

If your lamp is low,

Observe without judgment.

Ask yourself,

What areas of my life need more attention and nourishment?

How can I replenish my spirit?

And let an image or idea naturally arise.

Perhaps dedicating time to a morning ritual,

Reconnecting with nature,

Or finding the space for stillness.

Now imagine the bridegroom's arrival is delayed.

It is nightfall,

The stars begin to appear overhead,

And a sense of waiting settles over the group.

Some of the virgins,

Including yourself,

Feel drowsy.

You sit down to rest,

Holding your lamp close.

In this time of waiting,

Reflect on your own periods of delay.

The times where life seemed stagnant,

When answers or opportunities seemed slow to arrive.

How did you feel during those times?

Did you grow weary and lose hope?

Or did you use that waiting period to deepen your patience and trust?

Visualize yourself during a past moment of waiting.

Imagine yourself holding your lamp steadily through the stillness.

Notice if it flickers or dims,

Or if it continues to burn brightly.

Allow yourself to be with this image.

Accept whatever arises.

There is no right or wrong,

Only an opportunity to see yourself more clearly.

Suddenly you hear a cry in the stillness.

Behold,

The bridegroom is coming.

Go out to meet him.

Feel a surge of alertness and energy as you and the other virgins leap up.

It is a time of awakening,

A moment of spiritual opportunity.

Look down at your lamp.

Is it still burning?

Do you have enough oil to see your way through the darkness?

Or is your flame starting to sputter and fade?

If your flame is strong,

Sense the confidence and readiness in your heart.

Feel yourself glowing from within,

Prepared to greet the divine presence with openness and trust.

If your flame is flickering,

What emotions arise?

Anxiety,

Regret,

Or the desire to reach out to others?

Take a deep breath and affirm to yourself,

I am willing to rebuild my inner light.

Visualize yourself gathering more oil bit by bit through small daily choices,

Each one adding strength to your flame.

Now imagine some of the other virgins turning to you.

Their flames are dying out.

They ask,

Can you share some of your oil?

But you realize that inner reserves cannot be shared.

Each must cultivate their own.

In your own life,

Reflect on times when you tried to rely on other's strength,

Or when someone leaned heavily on yours.

How did it feel?

What did you learn from those experiences?

Visualize healthy boundaries as a bright circle of light surrounding you.

This is your personal space,

Your spiritual energy.

See it glow brighter and clearer as you protect and preserve it.

Affirm to yourself,

I can offer support,

But I cannot give away my inner peace.

My light is mine to tend.

Now in your mind's eye,

See the bridegroom arriving.

A radiant figure shining with a light that fills the entire landscape.

Those with prepared lamps step forward confidently,

Joyfully entering into his presence.

You move forward too.

If your lamp is bright and full,

Feel the inner peace and readiness as you enter the celebration.

A sense that you have tended to your soul,

That you have prepared well.

If your lamp is dim and empty,

Observe what emotions arise.

Regret,

Sadness or dissolve.

This is not a time for self-judgment,

But a moment to recognize your true state,

To know yourself and to commit to spiritual renewal.

Now visualize a door closing gently behind those who are prepared.

You stand before it,

Feeling the weight of your current choices.

Know that this door symbolizes both closure and opportunity.

As you reflect on the areas of your life where you have been vigilant and where you have been distracted or where you long to do better,

Let this door become a portal of transformation.

Affirm to yourself,

I honor where I am now.

I choose to grow.

Every moment is a new opportunity.

And now slowly allow the image of the parable to fade.

Feel yourself returning to the present moment,

Back to your body,

Holding the lessons and insights gently.

Take a deep breath and release.

And ask yourself,

What is one way I can fill my lamp today?

What is one way,

One small way I can fill my lamp today?

Perhaps through a moment of silence or a few words of gratitude.

Or a compassionate gesture to yourself or to another.

And when you're ready,

If your eyes were closed,

You can slowly open your eyes.

Bring with you a renewed sense of purpose and awareness.

Carry the light of this parable into your day,

Into your life.

Remembering and reminding yourself to tend your inner flame,

Moment by moment.

Thank you everyone for being here.

Love,

Light,

Blessings.

Namaste.