Category: World Scripture-2

Remember, No Human Condition Is Ever Permanent

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They are Murdering People Left and Right

Cheon Seong Gyeong 359

Human beauty does not just reside in the face. It can be seen and felt from all directions. Beauty is three-dimensional, like a ball. Whether seen from above, seen from the side, or seen from any direction, a person has his or her own perfect beauty. So you should not carelessly evaluate your wife’s face. Many beautiful women are poor, but women who have virtue or good fortune are of a different type. We often see that even in the case of a woman with a pretty face, her face becomes strange after having just two or three children. So we can conclude that those who can maintain their beauty even after childbirth are beautiful women. (God’s Will and the World – 543)

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The 72 Couples correspond to Jesus’ seventy-two disciples. As they succeed in laying a foundation of indemnity on earth, God’s providence can expand. Through the unity of the 72 Couples representing Cain and Abel with the 36 Couples representing Adam and Eve, all providential requirements for the family have been met, and the restoration of the family has been completed. Such is the significance of the Blessing up to the 72 Couples. With the accomplishment of the 72 Couples Blessing, a God-centered foundation was achieved on earth for the first time, both horizontally and vertically, and thereby, a central standard was set up. Thus, the vertical foothold – a central point that should be determined through God’s providence – can be established only when the 36 and 72 Couples are united as the perfected victors of history. Once that central point is determined, the victorious realm of the central ancestors desired by God will finally have been fulfilled. This perfect foundation must be developed horizontally on earth. (55-167, 1972.5.7)

Moderation

Moderation is universally regarded as a virtue. excessive behavior of any kind—stinginess or profligacy, mortification of the flesh or licentiousness, self-righteousness or abject submissiveness—should be eschewed in favor of the Golden Mean or Middle path.
However, each tradition has its distinctive emphasis. Aristotle’s classic statement of the Golden Mean emphasizes the work of reason in finding the middle and keeping to it. the role of wisdom to know the mean is reflected in the popular Christian prayer, “God, grant me the serenity to accept what cannot be changed, the courage to change what should be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference.” the Buddha’s Middle path defines the religious life as threading a line between grasping at being and taking refuge in nothingness. throughout the history of Buddhism, philosophers and practitioners have sought to define this middle way between withdrawal from the world and social engagement, between effort at spiritual growth and attacking the pride that can arise with its attainment, and so on—an enduring dialectic. The Confucian mean is about personal balance, which is manifest in one’s actions and in the harmony of one’s relationships.
These traditional expressions of the mean are about individual behavior. Father Moon’s description of the mean, on the other hand, has a global outlook. The mean is achieved when a person’s individual balance is substantiated in harmonious relationships with others and then pursues actions in society to bring together high and low, rich and poor, black and white to form a level “horizon” of life.

Moral virtue is a mean… between two vices, the one involving excess, the other deficiency, and its character is to aim at what is intermediate in passions and in actions…
    Hence also it is no easy task to be good. For in everything it is no easy task to find the middle. Just as to find the middle of a circle is not for everyone but for him who knows; so, too, anyone can get angry—that is easy—or to give or spend money; but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right aim, and in the right way, that is not for every one, nor is it easy.
    Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics II.9 (Hellenism)
 
The servants of the Most Gracious are… those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just balance between those extremes.
    Qur’an 25.67
 
Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself? Be not wicked overmuch, neither be a fool; why should you die before your time?
    Ecclesiastes 7.16-17
 
In practicing the ordinary virtues and in the exercise of care in ordinary conversation, when there is deficiency, the superior man never fails to make further effort, and where there is excess, never dares to go to the limit.
    Doctrine of the Mean 13.4 (Confucianism)
 
With regard to honor and dishonor the mean is proper pride, the excess is known as a sort of empty vanity, and the deficiency undue humility.
    Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics II.7 (Hellenism)
 
The master said, “‘The Ospreys!’ Pleasure not carried to the point of debauch; grief not carried to the point of self-injury.”
    Analects 3.20 (Confucianism)
 
Be generous but not extravagant; be frugal but not miserly.
    Nahjul Balagha, Saying 32 (Shiite Islam)
 
Remember, no human condition is ever permanent. Then you will not be overjoyed in good fortune nor too scornful in misfortune.
    Socrates (Hellenism)
 
That things have being, O Kaccana, constitutes one extreme of doctrine; that things have no being is the other extreme. These extremes have been avoided by the Tathagata, and it is a middle doctrine he teaches.
    Samyutta Nikaya 22.90 (Buddhism)
 
However hungry you are, you do not eat with both hands.
    Akan Proverb (African Traditional Religions)
 
Eat and drink, but waste not by excess: for God loves not the wasters.
    Qur’an 7.31
 
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full, and deny thee,
and say, “Who is the l ord ?”
or lest I be poor, and steal,
and profane the name of my God.
    Proverbs 30.8-9
 
Your fame or your person, which is dearer?
Your person or your goods, which is worth
more?
Gain or loss, which is the greater bane?
That is why excessive meanness is sure to lead
to great expense;
Too much store is sure to end in immense loss.
Know contentment, and you will suffer no
disgrace;
Know when to stop, and you will meet with no
danger.
You can then endure.
    Tao Te Ching 44 (Taoism)
 
While there are no stirrings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the mind may be said to be in a state of equilibrium (chung). When those feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree, there ensues what may be called the state of harmony (ho). This equilibrium is the great root from which grow all the human actions in the world, and this harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue. Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish.
    Doctrine of the Mean 1.4-5 
 
 
 

If you Gossip, You Are on the Side of Satan

We will not post the Daily Inspiration tomorrow, November 27th. Instead, join us for the Dividing Line; Ending the Culture that Causes Sexual Abuse workshop, live, in-person or online. You can still register here.

Listen to the Richard Urban Show #100:

They are Murdering People Left and Right

Cheon Seong Gyeong 2125

Throughout history, behind the scenes, good spirits have always cooperated with God’s side and evil spirits have cooperated on Satan’s side. The rift created as a result of the Fall expanded through the family, tribe, ethnic people, nation, and world. In modern times it has manifested itself in the clash between materialism and theism based on humanism and religion respectively. If Jesus Christ had been accepted by the Jewish people two thousand years ago, he would have unified the Jewish tribes and race, and also the Arabic realm inhabited by the descendants of the twelve tribes. Thereupon, his ideology and teachings would have spread through the Middle Eastern region and the Indian region to the Far East. He would then have conquered the Roman Empire and all of Europe and formed a new religious cultural realm in which he would have become the King of all kings. However, through his death on the cross, Hellenism, which had developed first as the humanistic cultural sphere based on the external human body, continued to form the central culture of the Roman Empire. On the other hand, Christianity representing Hebraism, which was the religious cultural sphere based on the internal human spirit, faced all manner of persecution within the empire for four centuries.

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As America represents the democratic world and the whole of humanity then, if it is to attain the heavenly standard of restoration through indemnity centered on the historical Christian cultural realm, what way of thinking should America have? It should be based on being determined to liberate God. It must have a conscientious heart in seeking the liberation of God. The True Parents who are to come, come as the incarnation of God, so America must attend the True Parents and love humankind more than its own people. Americans must love humankind more than their own people and nation. That is why, within America, there are numerous nationalities, peoples, tribes and families. (148-166, 1986.10.8)

Richard: Here Rev. Moon calls for us to live altruistically, loving our fellow mankind, just as he and Mrs. Moon have shown an example of doing.

Prudent Speech

Teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon

You must not bring harm to others by your words. (Way of God’s Will 2.1)
 
If you mistakenly utter just one wrong word among your colleagues, that one wrong word can break the bond between you. With one wrong word, both you and the person who hears that word will suffer. (89:116, November 1, 1976)
 
Words are so powerful. One wrong word can damage many people and even destroy the world. A loving word only flourishes and develops. It may include some rough language, but as long as it is spoken out of love the whole universe rejoices.
    A word can be a fearful thing. If I speak a word of truth, you might be caught in its judgment. Maybe you were laughing a second before, but immediately you become very serious. Then if I say, “I will forget and forgive everything you have done,” you will feel a great weight off your shoulders by that one simple phrase. (91:91, January 30, 1977)
 
I had to pray for three weeks as a result of uttering one careless word. (Way of God’s Will 2.2)
 
Satan’s weapon is to create division by criticizing. Satan whispers, “That person has this and that bad point. Stay away from him.” He creates divisions by continually whispering in your ears something bad about another person. Should you ignore these criticisms or gossip about them to others? If you gossip, you are on the side of Satan. (215:240, February 20, 1991)
 
When you are investing your effort, don’t nag or complain. Close your mouth, be quiet, and just give. Your silence signifies that you are the owner. You will become the pole that can welcome the dawn’s twilight and the morning sunshine.17 Is not the dawn a time of tranquil silence? (325:117, June 30, 2000)
 
In the past, noble families trained their children not to speak carelessly, especially in the morning. They taught them to speak only when spoken to. Such manners are also required in our life of faith. (40:73-74, January 24, 1971)
 
If you work much and speak little, you will be a winner. But if you do little and speak much, you will be a loser. (Way of God’s Will 2.2)
 
 
 

Speak Not Harshly to Anyone

Happy 400th Anniversary of Thanksgiving!

“When Did We Visit You While You Were Sick or in Jail?”

Cheon Seong Gyeong 618

All of you must have the heart that is seeking something. After praying in the morning you should be able to sense that something good will happen that day. Do not think that something good will happen on its own course, but actively start looking for whatever it is. This type of attitude is what you should have in leading a life of faith. Therefore, feelings, experiences and putting them into action will bring life to you. All this occurs during the half-awake state.

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The path of salvation is a path of restoration through indemnity. Indemnity means taking the opposite course of the Fall; it means going in reverse. (167-98, 1987.6.30)

Prudent Speech

A loose or malicious tongue can cause much suffering. Evil speech can destroy friendships, ruin reputations and generate needless prejudice. It can be argued that if Jesus hadn’t been surrounded by rumors and gossip, he could have won far more acceptance by the people of his day. Since talk can cause damage to others and to oneself, one’s words should be weighed carefully.
Therefore, before we speak, we should carefully consider whether our words will be edifying or damaging to others. Before we repeat a tale we have heard, we should first ascertain whether it is true. Before we talk about doing something, we should carefully consider if we are ready to do it ourselves. Therefore, a wise person is one of few words. Good parents train their children to be well mannered and not speak overly much at meals.

You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people.
    Leviticus 19.16
 
If the ear does not hear malicious gossip, the heart is not grieved.
    Yoruba Proverb (African Traditional Religions)
 
False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.
    Plato, Phaedo (Hellenism)
 
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
    Matthew 12.35-37
 
Let him who believes in Allah and the last day either speak good or be silent. 
    Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 15 (Islam)
 
When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but he who restrains his lips is prudent. \
    Proverbs 10.19
 
The Messenger of God… took hold of his tongue and said, “Restrain this.” I said, “O Prophet of God, will what we say be held against us?” He said, “May your mother be bereaved of you, Mu‘adah! Is there anything that topples people on their faces into hell-fire other than the harvests of their tongues?”
    Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 29 (Islam)
 
Speak not harshly to anyone. Those thus addressed will retort. Painful, indeed, is vindictive speech. Blows in exchange may bruise you.
    Dhammapada 133 (Buddhism)
 
The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.
    James 3.6-9
 
The origin of all trouble
within this world
is a single word
spoken in haste.
    Moritake Arakida, One Hundred Poemsabout the World (Shinto)
 
A noisy bird builds a bad nest.
    Kanufi Proverb (African Traditional Religions)
 
To be always talking is against nature. For the same reason a hurricane never lasts a whole morning, nor a rainstorm all day. Who is it that makes the wind and rain? It is Heaven and earth. And if even Heaven and earth cannot blow or pour for long, how much less in his utterances should man?
    Tao Te Ching 23 (Taoism)
 
The Master said, “Where disorder develops, words are the first steps. If the prince is not discreet, he loses his servant. If the servant is not discreet, he loses his life. If germinating things are not handled with discretion, the perfecting of them is impeded.”
    I Ching, Great Commentary 1.8.10 (Confucianism)
 
A person is born with an axe in his mouth. He whose speech is unwholesome cuts himself with his axe.
    When a person praises someone who should be blamed, or attacks someone worthy of praise, then this man is accumulating evil with his mouth and this evil will not lead to happiness.
    It is little harm if one loses money in gambling with dice, even losing everything, including oneself; but if one bears ill-will towards well-conducted ones it is greater harm indeed. Insulting men of real worth, bearing ill-will in thought and speech, leads to eons upon eons in the states of misery.
    Sutta Nipata 657-60 (Buddhism)
 
You who believe, if some perverse man should come up to you with some piece of news, clear up the facts lest you afflict some folk out of ignorance and some morning feel regretful for what you may have done…
    You who believe, do not let one folk ridicule another folk. Perhaps they are better than they are. Nor let women mistreat other women; perhaps they are better than themselves. Nor should you find fault with one another nor shout at one another using nicknames; it is bad to use a dirty name instead of one you can believe in. Those who do not turn away from it are wrongdoers.
    You who believe, refrain from being overly suspicious: some suspicion is a crime. Do not spy on one another, nor yet any of you slander others. Would one of you like to eat his dead brother’s flesh? You would loathe it! Heed God, for God is Relenting, Merciful.
    Qur’an 49.6-12
 
 
 

Be Careful About the Words You Speak

Register now for the Dividing Line; Ending the Culture that Causes Sexual Abuse workshop in Harpers Ferry, WV on November 27, 2021.
The Registration deadline is today, November 24th.
Featuring presentations by Rebecca Friedrichs, author of Standing Up to Goliath: Battling State and National Teachers’ Unions for the Heart and Soul of Our Kids, Country , Stephanie Mann, founder of Safe Kids Now! and Richard Panzer, founder of the Institute for Relationship Intelligence.
Attend in-person or by Zoom. Dividing Line; Ending the Culture that Causes Sexual Abuse – VisionRoot

Do You Know the Facts about COVID and COVID Vaccines?

Cheon Seong Gyeong 713

If God gave you ten years to fulfill such a responsibility, during those ten years you should offer your utmost loyalty and devotion. How can you shorten the period of restoring the children’s path that can illuminate history and make it a valuable path? To reduce a ten-year period scheduled by God to a seven-year course, you must invest your sweat, blood, effort, and toil. Without exerting greater quantity and quality of effort you cannot have dominion over the nation and world. Unification Church members must become people who can fulfill such responsibilities.

Cheon Seong Gyeong 916

God is our ancestor and we are His grandchildren. Hence, when you say, “Please let this be so, as I am asking.” He will say “Yes.” He will not say “No.” Everything will come out alright with God. (162-143, 1987.4.5)

Caution and Vigilance

Teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon

You, the young ones, are standing at the crossroads of good and evil. If you take one wrong step, you might fall into a steep and deep pit of death. Although it is difficult, take the step that will let you stand tall. Then you can be victorious princes and princesses who look out at the hope for a shining tomorrow that lies on the broad plane. Therefore, you need to watch each step. Be careful as you walk on the snow-covered road. (59:214, July 16, 1972)
 
The greater you become, the more you have to watch under your feet. The smaller you become, the more you have to look up to Heaven. (Way of God’s Will)
 
Be careful about the words you speak, be careful about what your eyes see, and be careful about the words you hear. Do not listen to self-centered remarks; do not look at selfish deeds; do not even talk to the person who lives selfishly; and do not make excuses for yourself. (93:319, June 12, 1977)
 
To be public means to live for the whole, and to be private means to live for the self. When you calmly evaluate yourself, you may find yourself in a quandary over what is public and what is private. Therefore, religion teaches fasting, suffering, modesty and humility, in order to restrain the body, which is inclined to be self-centered. (149:271, November 27, 1986)
 
Think once, twice and three times before you act. (93:320, June 12, 1977)
 
An unwarranted or improper statement can ruin your entire life. Hearing one unrighteous word can ruin your entire life. One wrong action can also ruin your life. Making a wrong friend can also lead you to ruin your life. Hence, many saints and sages have taught that we should be cautious about what we hear, say, and do, and about whom we take for friends. East or West, past or present, this philosophy is true.
    On the other hand, one righteous, good statement at the opportune time can bring total, dramatic success to a life. Hearing the right things at the right moment can lead to a decision that will make an entire life successful. One right action at the right time can bring great success. It is the same with making a friend; for example, a sister here could go out to the street, meet a good man and have one conversation. That could be enough to initiate a friendship that leads to him becoming her husband. (91:29-30, January 2, 1977)
 
The road to misfortune does not ordinarily start from a major crisis. More often it is a trivial matter that opens the door to great unhappiness. It is hard to overcome even a small difficulty as long as your thinking is self-centered. Therefore, you should think twice about what you are doing. In analyzing great mistakes or serious crimes we invariably find that if the person had thought of the impact his actions would have on the well-being of others, he probably would not have committed such a blunder…
    Particularly when we are faced with making an important decision, you are liable to choose the path to misfortune unless you stop to think twice before you act, to check whether your thinking is public or self-centered. Those who reason from selfishness are truly their own worst enemy. (93:298, June 12, 1977)
 
The fall of Adam and Eve was not the result of a planned failure that took one year or ten years. Their failure was brought forth in one moment, and that failure of a moment became the base for the corruption of the Kingdom that had been in preparation for millions of years. When we think about this, we realize how fearful one moment is.
    Due to the failure of a single moment, people walking the religious path in every age have had to pay a price of great suffering. Numerous secular people too have been ruined by a single misstep of a moment. All their subsequent suffering became part of a tremendous sacrificial offering, for indemnity. When we understand this, every hour that we ordinarily live so casually becomes fearful, even a single second within that hour, and we want to exert ourselves to make it a success.
    Every hour in your daily life is fearful, even each minute of every hour. Know how to struggle for every moment. For apart from one moment, Heaven cannot exist. (37:219, December 27, 1970)
 
If only Noah had been more prudent in the days after the flood, he would not have become drunk and lain naked. Would he have done such a thing if he had thought it over a bit more? With just a little more prudence and patience, he would not have allowed himself to get drunk. We can definitely say his mission would have succeeded if he had continued to be prudent. Likewise, when Abraham was making his offering, why did he only divide two of the three offerings and neglect to cut the birds? He would not have made the mistake if he had thought more carefully as he was arranging the offering. (99:39, August 27, 1978)
 
When Jacob was receiving his trial from Heaven, he never relaxed his mental vigilance for a moment. (3:337, February 9, 1958)
 
 

Be Like the Wise Virgins

Register now for the Dividing Line; Ending the Culture that Causes Sexual Abuse workshop in Harpers Ferry, WV on November 27, 2021.
The Registration deadline is tomorrow, November 24th.
Featuring presentations by Rebecca Friedrichs, author of Standing Up to Goliath: Battling State and National Teachers’ Unions for the Heart and Soul of Our Kids, Country , Stephanie Mann, founder of Safe Kids Now! and Richard Panzer, founder of the Institute for Relationship Intelligence.
Attend in-person or by Zoom. Dividing Line; Ending the Culture that Causes Sexual Abuse – VisionRoot

Listen to the Richard Urban Show #96:

Bioterrorism by COVID Vaccination

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1410

Of the 36 Couples, the Adam couples were already married couples, the Noah couples were engaged but not married, and the Jacob couples were virgin men and women. Noah’s family did not fulfill the Will. When you look at the people in the world today you see that there are already married couples, those who are in informal relationships or are engaged, and the completely pure single men and women. From this time on, the foremost kind of people that True Parents should be seeking for are not the Adam couples but the true sons and daughters, in other words, pure single men and women. (242-104, 1993.1.1)

Richard: Yes! Correct. We will be focusing on this group with our new unionstation.love courtship, marriage and Blessing website, coming soon!

Cheon Seong Gyeong 671

    We do not need education for going the way of evil. Anyone can go that way because history started from evil. Would there be a need for education to go that way? Because people became evil of their own accord, society educates them to act according to their standard of conscience centering on ethics and morality. Education is carried out centering on what? Although people are educated according to goodness and conscience, how many are well grounded on the standard of that education? Evil things can be done without education; everybody can get a perfect score in that.
    To those of us living in such circumstances, our conscience is always telling us to be good people. Although your mind always stimulates and advises you to be good, did you actually become good people? When we think about this problem, our whole life is continual lamentation. Today, tomorrow, this year all are lamentation. Youth, middle age, old age all are lamentation. We end our lives with it. In other words, our whole life may be marked by evil. This is the inevitable conclusion we reach. Because people were born from evil, they are wriggling in and going toward evil. This has been the way for the lives of those who are living today and all those who have lived until now.

Richard:  Yes!  Correct.  That is why we have to study the highest standard of truth to inform our conscience.  That is what will occur at the Dividing Line; Ending the Culture that Causes Sexual Abuse workshop on November 27th.  There is only one more day to register.

Caution and Vigilance

A person walking the road of life must be vigilant. It will not do to lead a carefree and casual existence. Moment by moment we face occasions to either do good or evil, either to remain faithful to principles or to violate them. There are snares and pitfalls along the way, and to fall into one could spell disaster.
Hence we need caution, vigilance and mindfulness to survive and progress on the spiritual path. Hence, the world’s scripture call for vigilance, to be alert against any sin or diversion from a life lived in accordance with God’s Will. The Christian bible warns that the Lord comes “like a thief in the night” and encourages constant wakefulness through such passages as the parable of the Wise and Foolish Maidens. Islam calls us to constantly remember (zakara) God, his commandments, and his mercies, and reminds us through the duty of daily prayer. The Jewish sages recommended interpreting commandments strictly to place “a fence around the law,” so that there can be no possibility of transgression. The religions of the east promote meditative disciplines that train the aspirant to watch over his or her thoughts at all times. Father Moon affirms the need for vigilance at all times, and reminds us of the biblical figures of old who made serious mistakes due to momentary lapses in vigilance.

In fear and trembling,
With caution and care,
As though on the brink of a chasm,
As though treading thin ice.
    Analects 8.3 (Confucianism)
 
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
    Philippians 2.12
 
A monk should step carefully in his walk, supposing everything to be a snare for him.
    Uttaradhyayana Sutra 4.7 (Jainism)
 
Even those who have much learning,
Faith, and willing perseverance
Will become defiled by a [moral] fall
Due to the mistake of lacking alertness.
Shantideva, Guide to the Bodhisattva’s
Way of Life 5.26 (Buddhism)
 
 
The Master said, “Danger arises when a man feels secure in his position. Destruction threatens when a man seeks to preserve his worldly estate. Confusion develops when a man has put everything in order. Therefore the superior man does not forget danger in his security, nor ruin when he is well established, nor confusion when his affairs are in order. In this way he gains personal safety and is able to protect the empire. In the I Ching it is said: ‘What if it should fail? What if it should fail?’ In this way he ties it to a cluster of mulberry shoots [makes success certain].”
    I Ching, Great Commentary 2.5.9 (Confucianism)
 
Misfortune is the root of good fortune;
Good fortune gives birth to misfortune.
Who knows where is the turning point?
Tao Te Ching 58 (Taoism)
 
What is lawful is obvious, and what is unlawful is obvious; and between them are matters which are ambiguous and of which many people are ignorant. Hence, he who is careful in regard to the ambiguous has justified himself in regard to his religion and his honor; but he who stumbles in the ambiguous has stumbled in the forbidden, as the shepherd pasturing around a sanctuary is on the verge of pasturing in it. Is it not true that every king has a sanctuary, and is not the sanctuary of God that which He has forbidden?
    Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 6 (Islam)
 
Rabbi Akiba said, “Laughter and levity accustom a man to immorality. Tradition is a fence for Torah. Tithes are a fence for riches. Vows are a fence for saintliness. A fence for wisdom is silence.”
    Mishnah, Avot 3.17 (Judaism)
 
Just as a wealthy merchant with only a small escort avoids a perilous route; just as one desiring to live avoids poison; even so should one shun evil things.
    Dhammapada 123 (Buddhism)
 
II seek union with the Good Mind,
And I forbid all traffic with the wicked.
Avesta, Yasna 49.3 (Zoroastrianism)
 
Only when a man will not do some things is he capable of doing great things.
    Mencius IV.B.8 (Confucianism)
 
Forsake the outward sin, and the inward; surely the earners of sin shall be recompensed for what they have earned.
    Qur’an 6.120
 
Do only such actions as are blameless… If at any time there is doubt with regard to right conduct, follow the practice of great souls, who are guileless, of good judgment, and devoted to truth.
    Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11.2, 4 (Hinduism)
 
Men of understanding [are] such as remember God, standing, sitting, and reclining.
    Qur’an 3.190-91
 
Be mindful when you are alone, in the shadow of your coverlet.
    Tract of the Quiet Way (Taoism)
 
If while going, standing, sitting or reclining when awake, a thought of sensuality, hatred or aggressiveness arises in a monk, and he tolerates it, does not reject, discard, and eliminate it, does not bring it to an end, that monk, who in such a manner is ever and again lacking in earnest endeavor and moral shame, is called indolent and void of energy.
 
If while going, standing, sitting, or reclining when awake, a thought of sensuality, hatred, or aggressiveness arises in a monk, and he does not tolerate it, but rejects, discards, and eliminates it, brings it to an end, that monk, who in such a manner ever and again shows earnest endeavor and moral shame, is called energetic and resolute.
    Itivuttaka 110 (Buddhism)
 
The kingdom of Heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those maidens rose 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 replied, “Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.” And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
    Matthew 25.1-13
 
Richard:  In my view, the five foolish virgins were not serious about their responsibility to receive the Lord at his second advent..  They, in a way, pretended to be ready to welcome the Lord at his second coming, but actually they were not.  That is why the Lord rejected them.  They were pretenders.