Dharma Teachings
Wonderwell Mountain Refuge
Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, located in Springfield, New Hampshire, is the retreat center for Natural Dharma Fellowship. Wonderwell offers a range of of meditation retreats throughout the year, including lineage practice retreats, wilderness retreats, meditation and yoga retreats, and contemplative health care retreats. Also offered are monthly Dharma Sundays and an evening meditation instruction program.
Margha means “path” in Sanskrit and refers to the path to enlightenment envisioned as a process of deep, gradual and individualized development.
The Margha Program—in the spirit of its name—is a path-based curriculum that provides an opportunity for students to train thoroughly and deeply in a variety of meditative practices, in a way that is flexible and recognizes the uniqueness of individual students.
Natural Dharma Fellowship is developing an EcoSattva Council that will meet once or twice per year at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, and occasionally online. Council is a process of reflection, reckoning, and listening for collective wisdom around various issues. This council considers the issue of planetary climate change. As a practice, it builds insight, trust, and community between participants, and the potential for creative collaboration and action.
-
Vajrayana means “the diamond vehicle” and refers to a branch of practices that flourished in Tibet. These practices work with the principal of pure vision, in which we embrace ordinary thoughts and emotions as the unlikely catalysts to recognizing that our nature, and the nature of others, is love and wisdom inseparable. In the practices of Vajrayana, we especially welcome the challenging aspects of life—our difficult thoughts, emotions, and physical reality—as the fodder for awakening.
-
SanghaCare is a network of mutual support connecting NDF members who need temporary or supplementary care due to illness, surgery, natural disaster or other critical event with other members who are able to meet those needs. Both practical and spiritual support is available.
Dharma Teachers
Lama Willa Miller
Willa B. Miller, PhD is the Founder and Spiritual Director of Natural Dharma Fellowship in Boston, MA and its retreat center Wonderwell Mountain Refuge in Springfield, NH. Continue reading
Elizabeth Monson
We recognize that all people hold unexamined beliefs, assumptions, fears and prejudices about others, and especially those who seem different from themselves. These beliefs are a great source of suffering for individuals and societies. We welcome people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, classes, religions, abilities and ages. We are committed to providing a safe place for all people to explore the dharma and awaken to their true nature.
Latest Posts
Four Dharmas of Gampopa with Lopon Liz Monson
In these audio teachings Lopon Elizabeth Monson explores the meaning behind the important prayer known as the Four Dharmas of Gampopa. Grant your blessings so that my mind may be one with the dharma. Grant your blessings so that dharma may progress along the path. Grant your blessings so that the path may clarify confusion. Read more about Four Dharmas of Gampopa with Lopon Liz Monson[…]
Lama Willa’s Guided Meditations on Insight Timer
Join thousands of meditators and check out Lama Willa’s latest guided meditations on the Insight Timer mobile app. Once you install the app on your phone or tablet, you can listen to Lama Willa’s guided meditations here. Guided meditations include: The Natural Refuge Tree Befriending Anxiety The Three Naturals Natural Awareness The Subtle Body The Qualities of Read more about Lama Willa’s Guided Meditations on Insight Timer[…]
Guided Meditation Cultivating Self-Love with Lopon Liz
This twenty-minute guided meditation combines a deep grounding and connecting to the earth meditation with recalling a caring moment and receiving love, care, and acceptance into every part of our body and mind. Read more about Guided Meditation Cultivating Self-Love with Lopon Liz
Natural Dharma Fellowship EcoSattva Council
Natural Dharma Fellowship is developing an EcoSattva Council that will meet once or twice per year at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge, and occasionally online. Council is a process of reflection, reckoning, and listening for collective wisdom around various issues. This council considers the issue of planetary climate change. As a practice, it builds insight, trust, and Read more about Natural Dharma Fellowship EcoSattva Council[…]
Fall 2018 Sangha Study Group!
Do you long to study the great texts of the Buddhist tradition in more depth? Here is your opportunity! To advance our community’s commitment to deepening study and practice, a sangha-led study group is forming this Fall to read and discuss some core texts of the Mahayana path. The group will meet online bi-weekly using Read more about Fall 2018 Sangha Study Group![…]
Advice for Women in a Secret Sexual Relationship with Their Buddhist Teacher
In this new Lion’s Roar article, Lama Willa Miller offers nine pieces of advice for women who find themselves in secret relationships with their teachers. In the past week, like so many women, I found myself hashtagging #MeToo. I wish also that I could go back and be an older, wiser sister to my 22-year-old Read more about Advice for Women in a Secret Sexual Relationship with Their Buddhist Teacher[…]
2017 NDF Annual Meeting
The 2017 NDF Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, 8 October 2017 at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge in Springfield, NH. The brief meeting will follow Dharma Sunday’s teaching and potluck lunch. An annual financial report will be presented as well as an update on so much that is happening at our dharma center, after which Read more about 2017 NDF Annual Meeting[…]
NDF Audio Prayer Book
Natural Dharma Fellowship has a book of prayers most frequently used during our retreats and gatherings. Compiled below are audio versions of these prayers. Read more about NDF Audio Prayer Book
Fierce Compassion in the Anthropocene
In this blog post for the Garrison Institute, Lama Willa details how fierce compassion helps us move towards inclusive altruism. None of us know if the extreme winter of 2014 in New England was a result of climate change. Climate scientists tell us that we have rougher weather to look forward to. Other prognostications include the Read more about Fierce Compassion in the Anthropocene[…]
Lama Rod Owens brings ‘Fierce Love’ to Beloit College
MAR 27, 2017 by AMELIA DIEHL “Love is the strategy” against systems of oppression and violence, but, he added, “you have to be fierce.” He chooses the word “fierce” to acknowledge the ancestors in the black gay community who “embodied fierceness” in being “out and proud.” While Owens said he grew up with love, he Read more about Lama Rod Owens brings ‘Fierce Love’ to Beloit College[…]
Refuge Tree Meditation
In this meditation session, Lama Willa guides us through a visualization of the refuge tree, the flow of unconditional love of our benefactors, and letting go into our innate wisdom.
Meeting Challenge and Pain as a Bodhisattva
In her first Tuesday night talk after the 2016 election, Lama Willa Miller discusses what we can learn from the way Bodhisattvas such as Chenrezig meet life’s challenges. What can we learn from falling apart?
Buddhist-Christian Studies Article: Deep Listening
In Volume 35 (2015) of Buddhist-Christian Studies, Lama Willa discusses discusses how the the effectiveness of educators, ministers, and dharma teachers might be enhanced by training in the art of listening. Like an Elephant Pricked by a Thorn: Buddhist Meditation Instructions as a Door to Deep Listening Willa B. Miller The phrase “deep listening” has been circulating Read more about Buddhist-Christian Studies Article: Deep Listening[…]
Interview with the Council on the Uncertain Human Future
Lama Willa was interviewed by the Council on the Uncertain Human Future in northern New Mexico in February 2016. There is more than enough in this moment to fill our human heart with joy and with gratitude and with wonder. Right now. So the pause gives us the space to discover that maybe all the things Read more about Interview with the Council on the Uncertain Human Future[…]
Lion’s Roar Article: Meditation Only Goes So Far
In the August, 2016 article on lionsroar.com, Lama Willa discusses how the teachings of Mahamudra can help transform our relationship to meditation. BY WILLA MILLER AUGUST 26, 2016 Mahamudra, or “the great seal”—along with Dzogchen, “the great perfection”—is one of the simplest forms of meditation in the Tibetan tradition. In its most essential form, it is the Read more about Lion’s Roar Article: Meditation Only Goes So Far[…]
Enthusiasm
In this Dharma talk, Lopon Liz Monson explores the sixth of the seven Aryan qualities, the qualities of the Noble Person, the quality of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm in the Buddhist tradition points to a transformation in how we approach the mundane activities of our daily lives. We all want to feel happy and enthusiastic about what Read more about Enthusiasm[…]
Interview with Sakyadhita International
Lama Willa was interviewed by Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women on July 7, 2014 in a post called Interviewing Buddhist Women: Lama Willa Miller. To view the full interview, click here. Monday, July 7, 2014 Interviewing Buddhist Women: Lama Willa Miller Harsha Menon When you open up institutions to the possibility of leadership on the basis of talent Read more about Interview with Sakyadhita International[…]
Excellence Reporter Interview: The Meaning of Life and Making the Planet a Better Place
Lama Willa was interviewed in the Excellence Reporter on September 3, 2015 in an post called Lama Willa Miller: The Meaning of Life and Making the Planet a Better Place. To view the full interview, click here. BY NICOLAE TANASE ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 In Buddhism, there is something called “the middle way”. The middle way Read more about Excellence Reporter Interview: The Meaning of Life and Making the Planet a Better Place[…]
Earth Body Shamatha Meditation
In this meditation session, Lopon Liz Monson leads us though an Earth Body Shamatha meditation followed by chanting the mantra of Tara. Download for later: Click here Also, check out the upcoming retreat Embodied Awakening on April 25-29 at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge. This was originally recorded in December 2016
Awakening through the Body talk at CIMC
In May 2016, Lama Willa Miller gave a talk on “Awakening through the Body” at Cambridge Insight Meditation Center. Although the body is often neglected in the life of many spiritual practitioners, it can be a door for us into compassion. The body can teach compassion. Listen at cimc.dharmaseed.org Also, check out the upcoming retreat Read more about Awakening through the Body talk at CIMC[…]
Natural awareness talk at CIMC
In September 2016, Lama Willa Miller gave a talk on Natural awareness at Cambridge Insight Meditation Center. Natural awareness is not something that we create or fabricate, and it is not something outside of our everyday experience. Natural awareness is present right within the everyday, every moment. It is our birthright. Listen at cimc.dharmaseed.org
Subtle Body Meditation and Teaching
The highest expression of enlightenment is not an intellectual exercise. It is the realization of a non-dual, non-conceptual state. With this in mind, Lama Willa Miller guides us through a meditation and then gives a Dharma talk on the subtle body in Tibetan Buddhism. Listen now: Download for later: Click here This was Read more about Subtle Body Meditation and Teaching[…]
Listening for Signal | Council on the Uncertain Human Future
A new video dialog, including Lama Willa, is being released through Clark University. It is the Council on the Uncertain Human Future and includes reflections on how the contemplative perspective is important in the process of healing the earth. The original Council on the Uncertain Human Future held a reunion meeting at La Mesita Ranch (Pueblo of Read more about Listening for Signal | Council on the Uncertain Human Future[…]
The Center Post Interview: The Teacher Who Changed My Life
Lama Willa was interviewed in The Center Post: the Journal of UU Rowe Center. The following is an excerpt from page 17 of the printed journal and page 9 of the PDF. Click here to download the full Spring/Summer 2016 journal. WILLA MILLER: One of my most memorable meetings with a teacher was with Dilgo Khyentse Read more about The Center Post Interview: The Teacher Who Changed My Life[…]
Lion’s Roar Interview: Meet a Teacher: Willa Miller
In September 2015 Lama Willa was featured in an interview series called Meet a Teacher in Shambhala Sun, now Lion’s Roar. To view the full interview, click here. BY WILLA MILLER| SEPTEMBER 26, 2015 I grew up in a blended counterculture family in Berkeley, California, in the 1970s. My mother was a cell biologist with spiritual leanings, Read more about Lion’s Roar Interview: Meet a Teacher: Willa Miller[…]
Wonderwell: The Next 100 Years
Help us Raise 2.5 Million Dollars for Needed Renovations Donate through PayPal Wonderwell reopened on May 6, 2016 after completing the first phase of a major renovation project to make Wonderwell safer, more accessible, more energy-efficient, more comfortable, and more beautiful than ever. We still need to raise over 1.2 million dollars for the next Read more about Wonderwell: The Next 100 Years[…]
August 2016 Newsletter
Wonderwell 2017 Schedule Update For 2017, Wonderwell’s Schedule webpage will list all upcoming retreats for the year. These retreats will be open for registration. We hope that this will allow everyone to see all retreats offered in a given year and plan for which ones you may wish to attend. Please note that this is a Read more about August 2016 Newsletter[…]
July 2016 Newsletter
Update on “Wonderwell: The Next 100 Years”: Phase I Has Been Completed! This month, we are devoting the NDF Newsletter to updating you on recent developments at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge. As you may know, the Town of Springfield brought to our attention last year that continued occupancy of Wonderwell would require us to bring the Read more about July 2016 Newsletter[…]
The Six Paramitas and Natural Meditation
In this video, Lama Willa discusses the Six Paramitas in the context of Natural Meditation. What does meditation have to do with ethics and compassionate action?
June 2016 Newsletter
Wonderwell Opens For 2016 Retreats On May 5th, Wonderwell joyfully reopened for retreats! So far, five retreats have taken place. The Foundation for Active Compassion Teachers’ Retreat explored the practices of devotion and compassion. Lama John Makransky continued his exposition of the Tibetan Buddhist sources for the practices of sustainable compassion. Dzogchen yogi, Brendan Kennedy Read more about June 2016 Newsletter[…]