The Secret Doctrine of Goddess Lalita
(Sri LalitaAṣṭottara Rahasyārthamu)
40. ajñānadhvānta dīpikā
She who is the bright lamp that dispels the darkness of ignorance.
The seeker who continues such relentless practice is sure to attain Devī. As Knowledge arises, ignorance, the opposite of Knowledge, disappears. Ignorance, lack of Self-Knowledge, is like a thick veil of darkness. Although it is nothing, darkness appears as though it is something. It is the same with ignorance. Ignorance appears as this expansive world of names and forms. The vṛtti or Knowledge of brahman is like a bright lamp in the darkness called ignorance. Devī is chidēka rasarūpiṇī. Like the juice that pervades the entire sugar cane, Consciousness pervades this entire universe. Consciousness (Devī) is like a lamp in the darkness. She shines brightly. Her effulgence spreads widely in all directions. When the light of Consciousness pervades everything completely, there is no scope for the darkness called ignorance to remain. It disappears completely. Like darkness merging into light, the phenomenal world merges into Consciousness. Since Consciousness is the only Reality, It is the only means for getting rid of the ignorance.