Lama Willa Blythe Baker, Ph.D. is the Founder of Natural Dharma Fellowship in Boston, MA and its retreat center Wonderwell Mountain Refuge in Springfield, NH. She was authorized as a dharma teacher and lineage holder in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism after twelve years of monastic training and two consecutive three-year retreats. She also has trained in the Nyingma and Shangpa lineages. In 2013, Willa completed a doctorate at Harvard University, and was Visiting Lecturer in Buddhist Ministry from 2013 to 2017.
Willa is author of four books: The Wakeful Body: Somatic Mindfulness as a Path to Freedom (2021), The Arts of Contemplative Care: Pioneering Voices in Buddhist Chaplaincy and Pastoral Work (2012), Everyday Dharma: Seven Weeks to Finding the Buddha in You (2009), and Essence of Ambrosia (2005). Her articles and translations have appeared in Tricycle,Lion’s Roar, Buddhadharma, Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, Tibet Journal, and other periodicals and anthologies.
She is a contemplative faculty member with the Mind and Life Institute, Sangha Live, One Earth Sangha, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, the Omega Institute and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She is a member of Clark University’s Council of the Uncertain Human Future and sits on the advisory board for One Earth Sangha.
At present, Willa writes, teaches, guides meditation retreats, and develops curriculum for people interested in cultivating a deep meditation practice in daily life. Her teaching interests include the wisdom of the body, eco-dharma, non-dual awareness and compassion.
Details of this retreat
8:30 am–1:00 pm ET | Meet at Wonderwell at 8:15 am and Carpool to the Trailhead
Join Lama Willa for a half day of practice on Bog Mountain, where a gentle mountain climb leads to expansive wide-open skies.
As we hike together through the forest and granite slopes, we'll cultivate mindful awareness, allowing the the beauty of the landscape to support a deeper sense of presence. At the summit, Lama Willa will offer brief instruction on the Dzogchen practice of sky-gazing and hold space for meditation practice.
With the open sky above and supported by the ground of warm granite, we'll explore how resting in nature can reveal the spacious, clear, and luminous qualities of our awareness.
Please note that this is a mountain hike, not a leisurely nature walk. While Bog Mountain is less strenuous than Mount Kearsarge, participants should be comfortable hiking on uneven, rocky trails with a moderate uphill climb.
Please come prepared with:
Sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes
Water
Packed lunch or snacks (to be enjoyed at the summit)
Trekking poles (recommended)
Bug repellent
Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
We will depart promptly from the main parking lot at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge at 8:30 am. Please arrive by 8:15 am to allow time for those who wish to carpool to arrange rides and for the group to receive directions and parking instructions before departing.
In the event of rain or thunderstorms, we may need to cancel this hike. If weather requires cancellation, this page will be updated by 7:30 am ET on the morning of Friday, August 21 and all those who are registered will receive an email cancelling the event.
This event is freely offered, but to support our planning, we ask that you register if you intend to attend. Everyone is welcome to join Lama Willa for the hike, and no one will be turned away for not registering. Registering simply helps us estimate attendance and lets us contact you if there are any updates or important information to share before the event.
Donations are welcome and participants are invited to offer dana in support of Lama Willa's generosity and continued teaching. You may make a donation when registering for the event or you may visit the NDF donation page, select "Retreat/Event Dana," and note "Dharma Hike with Lama Willa" in the comments.
From Boston and points East
By Car: Wonderwell is a 2 hour drive from Boston. Take Highway 93 North to Highway 89 North. Take Exit 12A. At the bottom of the exit ramp, take a right turn. When that road T’s take a left onto Route 114. Take Route 114 past Lake Kolelemook (to your right). After going through the small town of Springfield, turn right on Philbrick Hill Road. Wonderwell is at the top of the hill, on the left.
*By Bus: The Dartmouth Coach runs from Boston (from Logan Airport and South Station) to New London (the Wonderwell stop) many times a day, and is a quick, efficient way to travel here. The Coach has wifi on board. Tickets can be purchased online or at South Station in Boston.
From NYC
*By Bus: The Dartmouth Coach runs from New York City to Lebanon, NH. The coach is a direct and comfortable way to travel between NYC and New Hampshire. For more information, see the Dartmouth Coach website.
From the Upper Valley
By Car: Wonderwell is 30 minutes south of Lebanon, NH on Highway 89. Take Highway 89 South to exit 13 (Grantham). At the bottom of the exit ramp, take a right turn. Continue past the Post Office until you intersect 114, and take a left. Take Route 114 for about 4 miles until Philbrick Hill Road and take a left. Wonderwell is at the top of the hill on the left.
*See our website for information on getting picked up at a bus stop.
Accommodation
We offer a variety of accommodations, from dormitories for women and men, to double shared rooms some with private bath, some with shared bath, private rooms with private or shared baths, and a lovely Benefactor Suite at some retreats. We also offer the possibility of camping in warmer months, and all retreats also have a non-residential option, if you are commuting from home or staying at a local B&B or motel.
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Located on twenty-five acres of rolling hills in Springfield, New Hampshire, Wonderwell was originally built as a summer home in 1911. Tranquil and serene, surrounded by woods, meadows, gardens, and century-old stone walls, Wonderwell’s stately main building offers a comfortable and spacious setting in which the transformative potential of meditation—for work, community and daily life—can be explored and realized. Recently, due to its many unique features, the building has been recognized as a New Hampshire state historic site.
The house is situated on a west-facing hillside with sweeping views of sky and mountains. On one end of the building is the Great Room, now the meditation hall, which can accommodate groups of up to 100 people. The hall has an oak balcony encircling the room above and two fieldstone fireplaces. Other features of this historic building include a large covered porch for outdoor practice, a kitchen with industrial appliances, dining facilities, 13 bathrooms, and 15 bedrooms of varying capacities sleeping up to 36 people. We have been working tirelessly, with a successful major capital campaign and continuing renovations, to bring Wonderwell into the 21st century, and complete the work necessary to keep this lovely historic building code-compliant, safe, and sustainable.
The house is partially shielded from a country road by majestic, old oak trees, and is framed by well-established perennials, with multiple garden spaces. Behind the house is an acre of open field that gives way to sloping forested land with excellent trail system potential and sites for several retreat cabins. The back of the house faces west toward jaw-dropping, sky-gazing views of Mount Croyden, behind which the sun sets in the evening.
For the many volunteers and benefactors who support Wonderwell, as well as for the people who work there, caring for Wonderwell has become a practice of sacred stewardship. For all of these people, Wonderwell is not just a building; it is a community.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in your accommodation fee. Our kitchen is dedicated to providing local fresh and/or organic foods whenever possible and we enjoy relationships with Kearsarge Food Hub, and other farmers in the area.
All meals are vegetarian, with gluten-free and dairy-free options available at every meal. Meals are served buffet style. Snacks such as fresh fruit, toast and crackers, nut butters, jams, nuts, and dried fruit are available 24 hours a day. Coffee is offered, usually until lunchtime, and hot water and all kinds of teas are always available.
The fee for the commuter registration option also includes all meals.
Customer Reviews
4.00 out of 5.0 average rating
3.0
Verified
Fall Equinox celebration (zoom)
This was my first experience with WonderWell.
I was disappointed that over an hour of the 90 min session was the music group playing. I did not really know what to do during this time, perhaps because I am such a novice.
The guided meditation near the end with Lama Liz was wonderful.
5.0
Verified
Stellar!
Lama Liz and the Natural Dharma Fellowship community is so incredibly welcoming and kind. I have never seen a community so unbiased and open in my life! This is a community for new and experiences practitioners of Buddhism and is tremendously welcoming to all variations of faith of practice.
Verified
