Lama Foundation — history sources (fetched 2026-07-19)

Fetched: 2026-07-19 Reliability: mixed — official site (lamafoundation.org) plus Wikipedia plus two NM newspaper sources; some figures (1996 fire building-loss count, Dome Cookbook year) conflict across sources and are flagged below.

Founding (1967)

Co-founded by Barbara Durkee (later Asha Greer / Asha von Briesen), Stephen “Steve” Durkee (later Nooruddeen Durkee, 1938-2020), and Jonathan Altman, who purchased roughly 100 acres adjacent to Carson National Forest in San Cristobal, NM, 17 miles north of Taos. The Durkees came out of the USCO media-arts collective in Rockland County, NY. Local artist/hermit Herman Rednick reportedly steered them to the site. First construction began 1968 (by hand, no electricity); incorporated 1969 as an “educational, religious and scientific” organization. Mission per the foundation’s own site: “a sustainable spiritual community and educational center dedicated to the awakening of consciousness, spiritual practice with respect for all traditions, service, and stewardship of the land.”

Wikipedia states the founders adopted three rules: no drugs, daily meditation, marital fidelity — single-sourced to Wikipedia, not independently confirmed elsewhere in this research.

Steve Baer connection

Baer designed and directed construction of the Dome complex, Lama’s first structure (with Little Joe Gomez of Taos Pueblo). Lama’s “cookbook fund” published Baer’s Dome Cookbook — sources conflict on year (Wikipedia says 1969; this KB’s existing sources say 1968 — unresolved). Also published a 1972 reprint of Buckminster Fuller’s 4D.

Ram Dass and Be Here Now

Ram Dass (Richard Alpert) returned from his first India trip in 1970 and stayed at Lama; he gave residents a manuscript, “From Bindu to Ojas,” which community members edited, illustrated, and laid out. First self-printed/sold by the community, then republished by Crown/Hanuman as Be Here Now (1971) — over 2 million copies sold since (per a 2021 50th-anniversary piece).

Interfaith character

Described as one of the first US centers to host Eastern teachers; hosted Sufi teacher Samuel Lewis, Buddhist teachers Jack Kornfield and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Christian contemplative Father Thomas Keating, and Rabbi Zalman Schachter — no single religious affiliation.

1996 Hondo Fire

Struck May 5, 1996; burned roughly 7,500-10,000+ acres of surrounding Carson National Forest. Building-loss counts differ across sources: Wikipedia/the foundation’s own history page say ~20-22 of ~23 buildings destroyed; a permaculture-design source cites “23 of 27 structures” destroyed (95% of surface vegetation burned). All sources agree the Dome complex and kitchen survived. Rebuilding used fallen timber, straw bale, cob, and passive/active solar; Lama became a hub for permaculture/natural-building workshops afterward.

Current status (2026)

The official site shows active 2026 programming; winter core residency ~8-15 people, summer population up to ~100. Hosts the Roots and Wings Charter School (Questa Independent Schools) on-site. Listed as an active nonprofit on CauseIQ and the Taos Community Foundation.

Flags / uncertainties

Exact 1996 building-loss count (20 vs. 22 vs. 23 of 23/27) unresolved across sources.
Dome Cookbook publication year (1968 per this KB’s existing sources vs. 1969 per Wikipedia) unresolved.
The “three founding rules” claim is single-sourced to Wikipedia.

Supporting URLs

Source: web research compiled 2026-07-19 for wiki article expansion.