Board of Directors

Robert founded the Portland Insight Meditation Community where he

is the guiding teacher.  He was empowered to teach the Dharma by Ruth Denison in 1983.  His life is devoted to helping others discover the profound ways Buddhist practices can transform one’s life, reduce suffering and create happiness.

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Robert is a husband, father, grandfather, poet, musician, skier, lover of mountains and is fully engaged with life. 

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Lora has been part of the PIMC community since moving to Portland in 2015. A meditation practitioner for more than 15 years, she values both the dharma education as well as the deep connections that the sangha of PIMC brings to her life and to countless others.

In her daily life, she is Senior Vice President at DBD Group. DBD serves non-profits around the country, helping them to raise money, manage their finances, strengthen their boards and achieve their missions. When not working, she is an avid traveler, reader and gardener.

As chair of the PIMC Board of Directors, Lora seeks to facilitate the work the Board does on behalf of the sangha, helping us tackle the issues that need to be addressed as effectively as possible. Lora also is part of the DEI Committee and other small groups at PIMC.

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Tracy Cullen grew up in New Jersey and currently resides in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.  Tracy has a background in public heath nutrition and currently works as a granting manager for the Victoria Foundation.  She also sits on the board of a family foundation and has experience in the philanthropic sector.  Tracy was introduced to the Ruth Denison lineage during a retreat in Canada in 2019 and continued to learn and practice through PIMC’s strong online presence and community since 2020.  

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Jim has studied the Dharma since 1990.  Ever since his teenage years he has been grappling with questions like: Who am I? Where did I come from? What am I here for?  It is only since practicing in the Portland Insight Meditation Community that he has found the tools to effectively address those fundamental questions.  He doesn’t have the answers to his own questions, but his greatest joy is trying to teach so he can learn.

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Jim teaches QiGong here at PIMC and a variety of locations in the Portland Metro area. He is also a member of the PIMC Teachers Council.

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Dan Leif started attending meditation sessions at PIMC around 2011, and was quickly drawn to insight meditation practice. He has been a participant in many classes and retreats associated with PIMC, and he is currently part of the PIMC Teacher Training program. He works as a writer/editor and also plays old time banjo and guitar. In all he does, he finds comfort and meaning in the simple reminder from Ajahn Chah: "This moment is like this."

Douglas Pullin has been teaching at PIMC since 2004. He is a lineage holder and authorized to teach in the Insight Meditation tradition of U Ba Kin, Ruth Denison, and Robert Beatty. Douglas graduated from the Spirit Rock sponsored Community Dharma Leader Training with Tara Brach and James Baraz. Douglas has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and master’s in clinical social work. He has over 25 years of non-profit management experience in community mental healthcare. In addition to teaching at PIMC and serving on the Teachers Council, Douglas offers mindfulness-based psychotherapy and consultation in independent practice.

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