The following is a teaching by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo offered at Kunzang Palyul Choling in Maryland:
Jetsunma takes us to a deeper understanding of the interdependence of the practices of Refuge and Bodhicitta. Leading us through the mental equations that will result in the cessation of suffering, she points out, “The cessation of suffering does not come about when everything external gets alright.” The answer to the question, “How in the world am I going to fix this?” is: you’re not…in the world. We have to move beyond the realm of cyclic existence to get the answer. In a less than perfect world we decide to reach for something perfect that we can’t see yet. Only then can we bring comfort to others.