The Bowl of Saki Commentary

It is a natural thing for the heart to expand and contract, to open and close. This is reflected in the movements of the physical heart. But it is very unnatural for the heart to remain closed, to be fixed. This always has its reaction upon the physical heart, which becomes harder, its movements less rhythmical, its pulsations tense, and its contents poisonous, destroying slowly the divine temple of the physical body.

When we look at this contraction from the standpoint of the soul—which is nothing but Ishk, nothing but God—the Divine Life-Energy cannot touch matter. It is thrown back upon itself, and that impedes what is called its evolution. Strictly speaking, soul cannot evolve, cannot change, but it can experience life on the surface or in the depths. To be free it cannot be limited, and when the door to the exterior is closed, suffering naturally follows, for the essence of joy is shut out.