The Secret Doctrine of Goddess Lalita
(Sri LalitaAṣṭottara Rahasyārthamu)
11. mithyā jagadadhiṣṭhānā
She who is the basis of the illusory universe.
How can we cultivate antarmukha, an inward vision? We can do so by contemplating deeply on the nature of Devī, who is the substratum on which the illusory world appears. She is the great power or śakti that is the basis of the entire universe. But we fail to notice Her because our attention is only on the transitory names and forms that are superimposed on it. Names and forms are countless, change endlessly, and produce mixed results. If the results are good, we are happy. If the results are bad, we are unhappy. We have no choice but to helplessly experience the results, good or bad.
This feeling of helplessness is because our attention is on the transient world. Our effort now is to see the world as a superimposition, as a mere appearance. It is only Consciousness that appears as names and forms. It is like the rays of the sun appearing as water (mirage) in the desert. The sun rays are real. Their appearance as water (mirage) is unreal.
Similarly, even if the phenomenal world appears to us, it is like a mirage. It is only a shadow of Pure Consciousness. It is real only as Consciousness, and unreal as names and forms. The more we contemplate on the infinite nature of Consciousness and our minds expand to grasp it, the more illusory the world will appear and disappear altogether eventually. When the entire world disappears, Pure Consciousness alone remains, just like the sun rays that remain when the mirage disappears.