Karma and Access to Sacred Tibetan Sites (EBC)

[Majerus]

This will seem like a crazy question, but I have tried to visit Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet on the Chinese side four times. I signed up for the trip four times, and the trips had to be cut short and/or cancelled. I've made it to Lhasa twice, and didn't get to go twice. Furthermore, the fourth time (a few days ago) that I signed up for this trip, the earthquake happened a few hours later!

 

The first time was January 27, 2020 and my group was scheduled to visit Qomolungma National Park and go see Everest at Rongbuk, but upon approaching the national park. We were told by the workers at the entrance gate that a new virus had happened and that all tourist sites were closed and we all had to get out of Tibet.

 

Then when Tibet reopened in July of 2021, my boss (in china) forbade me from traveling, even though it was vacation time. So I cancelled the trip and got a refund.

 

Then in August of 2022, I arrived at the Lhasa airport, and IMMEDIATELY upon exiting the airport, we learned that Tibet had had it's first COVID case, and that the city would do the standard lockdowns. So we had to leave Tibet again.

 

Then the fourth time, on the evening of January 7, 2025, I signed up for that tour again and the earthquake happened almost immediately afterwards. 

 

I'd say twice in a row would be bad luck. But this isn't right. This has to be bad karma, specific to this region. Furthermore, it seems the consequences keep getting worse. First, everyone's vacation was cancelled. Then People got sick and quarantined. The final attempt corresponded with 126 people dying and thousands of injuries and destroyed homes. I know it's preposterous to believe I CAUSED this, but still, something is working against me here and things just keep getting worse.

 

Well Dharmic faiths have a strong sense of karma, and the Tibetans believe that places are sacred. I have had repeated, and increasingly intense misfortune in visiting these sacred locations. The Tibetans believe Miyolangsangma, a former Bon diety, who rides a golden tiger, lives in Everest. She used to be a demoness, but was converted by (I believe) Milerepa to become a goddess of inexhaustible giving.

 

While I don't believe that an actual Tara riding a tiger is causing scourges to prevent my access to her abode, It really seems like there's a block, and I really want to do this before I die. During the first trip, everyone was merely interested in seeing the giant mountains, and wasn't too interested in Tibetan Culture. So I decided to educate myself on the culture and try again. Then I couldn't even get past Lhasa. Now an Earthquake. 

 

It's not for lack of trying, it's because of the proverbial wrenches and pianos falling, which are beyond my control. What do I have to do to absolve this streak of misfortune? I took the money that I set aside for the trip and donated it to victims of the earthquake, via a source that wouldn't be syphoned elsewhere.

 

To those keen on the laws of Karma, and perhaps the law of attraction, what gives? Thanks for reading this.