Pride, ego and a false sense of honour are some of the major obstacles on the spiritual path. Kabir asks the devotee to get rid of them so that the willful mind acquires humility and comes under his control. Kabir also disapproves of begging and living on the charity of others, for whatever man takes or obtains without due payment adds to his already heavy debt of karmas. The devotee must support himself with his own earnings. Men do many dubious deeds to acquire wealth and gain status and fame, but they only increase their load of karmas and have to come back to the world to settle the account. Saints urge seekers to give up all false pursuits, realize that the world is false and try to gain release from it.

Renounce honour,
Renounce false pride,
Then will your haughty mind bend.

Those who steal and eat,
Those who beg
And live on charity
Only help the tree of karmas
To thrive and bear more fruit.

Those who run after wealth,
After status and fame,
Only nurture that tree;
They encourage it
To grow and expand,
Then come back to the world
To eat its fruits.

Give up all vain pursuits,
Know them to be false.
This world is an illusion —
That is why I urge:
Give up all that is false,
Escape from this maze of lies.

Bijak, Ramaini 60
Chhādahu pati chhādahu labrāi