This is the invocation to Anuvaka or Lesson one, of a section called 'Shikshavalli' or 'On Contemplation' from the Taittiriya Upanishad. The spiritual quest can be long and hard. There are frequent difficulties and obstacles. The purport of this chant is that we recognize this in advance, and ask for assistance in removing those upcoming impediments. But we at the same time promise that we will make all efforts to focus on the most important task at hand—constantly recognizing the spiritual.