Ignorance and our true nature

The happiness we seek, a genuine lasting peace and happiness, can be attained only through the purification of our minds. This is possible if we cut the root cause of all suffering and misery—our fundamental ignorance.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Ignorance of what, we might ask. Ignorance of our true nature. How we express that will depend on our belief system. We might say that our true nature is that we are created in the image and likeness of God. We might also say that our true nature is that we are fundamentally enlightened beings - although we are not fully awake to that. However we choose to express it, we do not have to identify with suffering and misery if we know who and what we truly are deep down.