Ego is the greatest obstacle in the way of God-realization. When the devotee eliminates I-ness and realizes the Lord, he becomes one with Him and then only the Lord exists for him. Erudition, ritualistic worship and external formalities, instead of leading the seeker to God-realization, only ensure further rounds in the cycle of birth and death. Kabir, concluding the poem with a paradox, says that having attained the state of 'dying while living', he is no more among the living because he is dead to the world and its attachments; and he is not among the dead because he is now fully alive to the spiritual life within himself.

Now you alone exist, O Lord;
You alone exist,
I am not, I am not.

The scholars in their quest for God
Read books and scriptures;
But through their pride of learning
They journey towards perdition.

So long as 'I', 'I', 'I',
I kept saying,
I could not recognize the Lord.
But now, O Lord, you alone exist;
I am not, I am not.

Says Kabir: O the crown of all men,
Pray listen to my submission —
I am no more amongst the living,
Nor am I amongst the dead.

Now the Lord alone is,
I am not, I am not.

K.G., p. 84:65
Ib tu hasi prabhu