The Bowl of Saki Commentary

In the physical world we find these stages. First someone comes to combat evil, often failing. Then another comes who moves human hearts and minds, and finally the third person becomes the leader in the righteous cause. On the mental plane we have the one who exhorts but does not move; this is the reformer; although some reformers are very successful in moving human emotions they do not always touch the mind or heart. The prophet is of another character. Prophets place the seed of righteousness in the mind and heart that it may fructify. The movement that the prophet has founded becomes organized, often as a religion, and the priest is the leader in religion.

From another point of view, the reformer helps to clear away emotional rubbish, the prophet helps to keep the mind pure, and the priest helps to preserve the purity in the heart after it is once attained.