Mis-Knowing

All phenomena, including the self, lack intrinsic existence; however, because of our fundamental ignorance, we ascribe intrinsic existence to them. This fundamental ignorance is thus not a state of mere unknowing; rather it is an active state of mis-knowing. In our state of mis-knowing, we mistakenly perceive things contrary to the way they really are. The more one uncovers the truth about the nature of reality, the weaker the force of this ignorance becomes, and, as the nature of reality becomes more apparent, the realization that this ignorance is erroneous will become stronger.

---His Holiness the Dalai Lama---