A method for igniting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp using an electronic ballast controlled by a ballast microcontroller. An ignition circuit including a parallel capacitive circuit is connected in parallel to the HID lamp. The ignition circuit being resonant at an ignition resonance frequency. An ignition voltage is provided to the HID lamp at the ignition resonance frequency, thereby initiating ignition of the HID lamp. Upon sensing the ignition, the HID lamp is powered at an operation frequency. Both the ignition resonance frequency and the operation frequency are in a high frequency range above fifty kilohertz. The ignition voltage preferably does not include a significant direct current offset The current flowing through the HID lamp is substantially continuous during the transition from providing ignition voltage during the ignition to powering the HID lamp at the operation frequency.