Robert Beatty Meditation
Dharma Teacher । Healer । Therapist
Portland, OR
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Summary
Robert Beatty is one of the pioneering Theravada Buddhist teachers who brought Insight Meditation and Mindfulness to the West in the 1970s. His approach to teaching emphasizes meeting students where they are, blending traditional Buddhist practices with Western psychotherapy. Over the years, he has guided thousands of students, helping them integrate mindfulness and meditation into their lives. His teaching style incorporates meditation, humor, music, poetry, and movement, encouraging others to approach life’s challenges with openness, compassion, and clarity.
Robert has studied with several respected teachers, who have shaped his unique meditation approach. He studied with one teacher for over four decades, receiving authorization to teach within the Burmese Buddhist tradition in 1982. He also explored non-dual spirituality and practiced in Burma, where he took novice ordination. His journey continued in India, where he deepened his practice and understanding by working with influential teachers in the Buddhist tradition.
After completing his BSc in Psychology and Chemistry at McGill University, Robert spent several years traveling the world, including time spent in Australia and Switzerland. His life took a significant turn in 1972 when he attended a Buddhist meditation retreat, which inspired him to become a monk in India. However, due to health issues, he returned to Canada and began exploring how to blend Western psychotherapy with Buddhist meditation, a theme that would influence much of his future work.
Upon his return to Canada, Robert pursued a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies, focusing on understanding the human impact on the environment and how people can live in harmony with nature. During this time, he also encountered Western psychotherapy, which further influenced his approach to integrating mindfulness and meditation.
In 1979, Robert moved to Portland, Oregon, where he earned his Master of Social Work degree. He worked in addiction treatment before transitioning to hospice care, offering emotional and psychological support to individuals and families facing illness and the end of life. In 1980, he founded a meditation group, the Portland Insight Meditation Community. Under his leadership, the community grew and eventually acquired a space for meditation classes and retreats. In 2024, he stepped down from his leadership role to focus on individual teaching and consultations.
Robert is the author of Mindfulness for a Happy Life: New Teachings of an Old Tradition for Today's World. Over his career, he has helped numerous individuals address emotional and psychological challenges through meditation and mindfulness practices. His teachings have reached thousands of people through classes, retreats, and conferences across the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.
Robert continues to offer individual consultations and teachings on meditation, Buddhist psychology, and emotional well-being. His website has more information about his work.
