Ignorance underlies and links all the other negative emotions. Clearing the ignorance within us is extremely difficult. It is the ignorant “I,” not our Buddha nature, which has negative emotions. Our ignorant mind is focused on the contaminated continuation of “me.” The minute we clear our ignorance we will experience clairvoyance. Transforming ignorance into wisdom is the most difficult task because other positive virtues can do nothing to cut ignorance. Only wisdom can cut ignorance. You have to experience for yourself that the independent “I” is not there, without destroying the fundamental basis of “me.” True wisdom is finding the balance between essentialism and nihilism. Ignorance is like a thief that steals our spiritual benefits.