Men try to attain the Lord through means devised by their own mind. With all the sincerity and courage of their efforts, they cannot achieve their object of God-realization. Under the dictates of mind, men have adopted many rites, rituals and forms of worship that involve both good and bad acts. Kabir says that by spending long years in external observances and formal practices in order to earn the wealth of God-realization, men have wasted and even lost the capital of their precious human birth. Pious deeds of charity, pilgrimage and fasting, though good deeds, are still a chain that keeps one tied to the physical world. A shackle, whether of gold or iron, is still a means of bondage.

Many a courageous attempt,
O mind, you made on your own;
Yet union with the Lord
Remained a far-off dream.
You did not discern
Between good and evil,
Genuine and counterfeit.
In your efforts to make a profit
Even your capital you lost.
Misguided, you strengthened your bonds;
You failed to realize that a knot,
Whether big or small,
Is still a tether to keep you bound.
Says Kabir: Whom will you blame
When you depart from here
With all your hopes shattered?

Bijak, Ramaini 80
Bahutak sāhas kar jeea apnā