Atypical: I suspect that closing ones eyes is merely a siman, not the cause. I don’t believe he implied that it was a foolproof siman or that it was the only one. It’s just an indication. The thrust of that vort, it seemed to me, was that where ones heart is tied to will have a resultant impact on the transition to Olam Ha Boh.
I’ve seen that before. There are two (Gemoras I believe). In one the transition is described as pulling a burr from wool. In the other it is described as removing a hair from milk. The resolution has to do with where the Neshama is clinging to.
I personally don’t see any fluffy clouds here. Just a simple point. But I find that point to be beautiful.