Wisdom in Ignorance?

 Seeking wisdom outside of ignorance (and vexations, for that matter) is incorrect from a Chan perspective. But what does this mean? In Sword of Wisdom, Master Sheng Yen remarks, "In making the transition from ignorance to Buddha-nature, you will realize that ignorance does not really exist. If it did, we would all be bound to it forever. Anyone practicing who understands this principle will not strive to get rid of ignorance or seek after Buddha-nature."

Another way of saying this is that there is no need to seek beyond this world, this life, and the experiences around us to be able to see how the Buddha nature is, since Buddha nature is simply taking the temporary form of ignorance. This is the same way that a water will take on various forms depending on the container in which it is presented, but this water is not any different in its essential nature. 

Making mistakes stems from the fact that we live in a world where we are using consciousness to distinguish "I" from others, and even assuming that things aren't interrelated and interconnected, when in fact, they are. I believe that knowing this will help us to practice in a way that is more practical and about present day life, rather than trying to achieve some otherworldly experience.