Thanissaro Bhikkhu

And it will still be black.

the body, the mind and its shadows, is suffering from auija, ignorance, darkness, deluded knowledge.

The mind is its concepts.

There are wild beasts to worry about, problems in finding food to eat and a place to sleep.

No matter which way you look, there's no way out.

But if we're lost in the world, it's many times worse than being lost in the jungle, because we can't tell night from day.

we have no chance to find any brightness because our minds are dark with ignorance.

And when the mind is rested, it'll gradually become bright in and of itself and give rise to knowledge, to insight, wisdom.

But if we let things get complicated, if we let the mind get mixed up with sights and sounds, smells and tastes, tactile sensations and ideas, that's darkness.

when intuitive knowledge does arise it can if you know how to use it lead to liberating insight but if you let yourself get carried away by knowledge of the past or future you won't get beyond the mundane level

In other words, if you dabble too much in knowledge of physical things without gaining wisdom with regard to the workings of the mind, it can leave you spiritually immature.

You gain knowledge of your past lives and get all excited.

Things you never knew before, now you can know.

Things you never saw before, now you see.

And they can make you overly pleased or upset.

Why?

Why?

because you take them all too seriously.

You may see a vision of yourself prospering as a lord or master, a great emperor or king of the past, wealthy and influential.

If you let yourself get pleased, that's indulgence in pleasure.