Mind vs. Pure Consciousness

[TDW1995]

The interviews Leo did with Peter Ralston have been very eye-opening since I'm fairly new to enlightenment work.  I highly recommend people check out the video series on Youtube!  This particular video has really stuck out to me especially since I'm doing self-inquiry each day: 

 

"The Substance of Enlightenment" video has made me wonder if pure consciousness needs to be accessed in the unenlightened state in order to make progress in this work.  Because the mind can only deal with form, how is it possible to focus on formlessness/pure consciousness? Or, is formlessness only accessed once we have detached our identity from all form?