# Knowledge & Ignorance > [!summary] > *Spiritual knowledge dispels ignorance like light dispels darkness. These analogies illuminate the nature of both knowledge and ignorance, and the transformation that occurs when wisdom dawns.* ## Sun Dispelling Darkness ### Knowledge Destroys Ignorance As the rising sun immediately dispels all darkness, transcendental knowledge destroys the darkness of ignorance in the heart. ![[bg/5/16|sun]] —Bg. [[bg/5/16|5.16]] See also: [[bg/10/11|Bg. 10.11]] ## Lamp in the Heart ### Illuminating From Within Transcendental knowledge is compared to a lamp that the Lord lights within the heart, dispelling the darkness of accumulated ignorance. ![[bg/10/11#purport|lamp]] —Bg. [[bg/10/11|10.11]] Purport ## Fire Burning Wood ### Knowledge Consumes Reactions As blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, so does the fire of knowledge reduce all reactions to material activities to ashes. ![[bg/4/37|fire]] —Bg. [[bg/4/37|4.37]] ## Awakening from Sleep ### Realizing the True Situation Coming to spiritual knowledge is like awakening from sleep—suddenly we see things as they really are, not as they appeared in the dream. ![[sb/5/11/12#purport|awakening]] —SB [[sb/5/11/12|5.11.12]] Purport See also: [[sb/4/22/27|SB 4.22.27]] ## Blind Following Blind ### Ignorance Leading Ignorance When the spiritually blind follow the spiritually blind, both fall into the ditch. One must seek guidance from one who can see. ![[sb/4/28/61#purport|blind]] —SB [[sb/4/28/61|4.28.61]] Purport ## Frog in a Well ### Limited Understanding The speculator who knows only the material world is like a frog in a well—he cannot conceive of the ocean and thinks his well is everything. ![[sb/2/10/42#purport|frog]] —SB [[sb/2/10/42|2.10.42]] Purport See also: [[sb/3/6/35|SB 3.6.35]] ## Cataracts Removed ### Clear Spiritual Vision Ignorance is like cataracts covering the eyes. When removed by the process of devotion, one can see the Lord directly. ![[sb/3/25/25#purport|cataracts]] —SB [[sb/3/25/25|3.25.25]] Purport ## Night and Day ### Two Different States Ignorance and knowledge are like night and day—what is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled, and vice versa. ![[bg/2/69|night]] —Bg. [[bg/2/69|2.69]] *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/guru-disciple|Guru & Disciple]], [[wiki/analogies/light-darkness|Light & Darkness]]*