Wonderwell Mountain Refuge

Since its founding in 2011 as a Buddhist retreat center dedicated to the cultivation of mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion for a better world, Wonderwell Mountain Refuge has provided a sanctuary for the transmission and preservation of authentic and ancient lineage teachings, as well as for the rediscovery of these teachings as profoundly relevant to contemporary life. 

Wonderwell Mountain Refuge is owned and operated by Natural Dharma Fellowship, a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to the preservation of the teachings of the Buddhadharma in the West. While grounded in the practices and teachings of the Buddhist tradition, Natural Dharma Fellowship’s mission is enhanced by retreats at Wonderwell that explore the realms of contemplative care, social justice, secular ethics, and activism.

Wonderwell has hosted over 150 residential group retreats supported by dedicated staff and guided by experienced meditation teachers. The types of retreats hosted include:

•  Silent group retreats to deepen in meditation practice, to steep in the timeless wisdom of the Buddhist teachings, and to cultivate the heart of compassion

•  Contemplative retreats for activists, educators, caregivers, artists, writers, couples 

•  Gatherings dedicated to exploring the intersection of Buddhist ethics with ecological sustainability

•  Yoga and mindful movement retreats

•  Events for local communities in and around Springfield, New Hampshire

At present, Natural Dharma Fellowship’s vision, and the programming and development of Wonderwell, are stewarded by Lama Willa B. Miller, PhD, Founder and Spiritual Director of Natural Dharma Fellowship and Lama Elizabeth Monson, PhD, Spiritual Co-Director of Natural Dharma Fellowship and the Managing Teacher at Wonderwell.

Both Lama Willa and Lama Liz are fully authorized teachers within the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and are trained scholars of the Buddhist traditions and translators (Tibetan-English). Their work is supported by a community of over 30 meditation teachers, visiting teachers and mentors, who participate in creating a web of support for students who participate in Wonderwell’s retreats and trainings.