Opening the Mountain Circumabulating Mount Tamalpais, a Ritual Walk

In 1965, Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, and Philip Whalen gathered at the basef Mt. Tamalpais. Inspired by Tibetan and Indian practices of walkinglockwise - "the way of the sun" - around a venerated object, they "openedhe mountain" by completing the first circumambulation of Mt. Tamalpais. Theyid it again two years later, a month after the "Human Be-in" in Golden Gateark, and with greater company as they invited the public to join them. Theractice has continued almost uninterrupted for forty years, with Matthewavis finding an organizing role on April 8, 1971, the Buddha's birthday,hen he first led the walk. He has led the celebrations more than 140 timesince then.Davis, Matthew is the author of 'Opening the Mountain Circumabulating Mount Tamalpais, a Ritual Walk', published 2006 under ISBN 9781593761271 and ISBN 1593761279.