Witnessing the Wild
An evening talk with Lama Willa Blythe Baker, PhD
Founding Teacher and Spiritual Co-Director of Natural Dharma Fellowship
Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
co-presented by IMCC and the Jefferson Tibetan Society
What would it mean to engage with meditation practice as an act of bearing witness? How do we meet the great uncertainties that seem to be a hallmark of our time? How can uncertainty and wildness awaken us? In this public talk, Lama Willa will explore the concept of “witnessing” as a way to connect, center and eventually enter into intimacy with the world as the foundation for mindful action.
Please click the "Register" button on the left side of this page. We are offering a multi-level fee structure that takes into account people’s differing financial circumstances. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Please contact us for details.
This is a hybrid event hosted in person at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlottesville and on Zoom. A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants on April 25th.
About Lama Willa
Willa Blythe Baker, PhD, 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)
- Essence of Ambrosia (2005)
For a listing of her publications and external event offerings, click here.
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.
Separate but related event: a weekend retreat with Lama Willa!
Rewilding the Heart
April 28 – 30, 2023
Lama Willa will offer a weekend retreat at Bridge Between the Worlds in Keswick, VA, from April 28 - 30, sponsored by the Jefferson Tibetan Society.
Rewilding the Heart is inner work that helps us attune to the wisdom and love that are always flowing around and through us-- the non-conceptual voices of the natural world that seek to draw us home to our deepest being, our core of authentic compassion, kindness, and availability to extend ourselves to each other and the wider world. Please see this document for a full description of the retreat: Rewilding the Heart Retreat Description
For details and logistical information regarding this weekend retreat, please read this document: Registration details, logistics, policies, and FAQs For those interested in registering, please be sure to read the policies (including the Waiver of Liability form) prior to registering using one of the links below.
Note:
- These links take you to SignUp Genius. Click the "Sign Up" button at the bottom of the page, then click “Save and Continue” to access the registration page.
- If you are looking to register for Lama Willa's April 26 talk at UU-C'ville, click the "Register" button on the left side of this page, rather than using the links above.
Limited scholarship opportunities are available for the weekend retreat. For more information or questions about this retreat, please contact: lamawilla.cville@gmail.com