Welcome Lauren Pittman - Mountain Stream’s New Executive Director

Dear Friends, 

It is an honor to have been selected for the role of Executive Director. Supporting the Dharma, practitioners, teachers and all who are interested in opening their hearts and working with their minds is both my purpose and my passion.

I was born and raised in San Diego, and lived there through my mid twenties. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Biology at San Diego State, and managed a Cell Biology laboratory at UCSD Medical School after graduation. While my early career was rooted in the sciences, a move to Maui inspired me to shift my focus towards nutrition, holistic living, and spirituality. For the next five years, I traveled extensively, explored a variety of spiritual traditions and worked in the health food and wellness industry.

After a three-month stay in India, I met my husband, Rob. We spent a couple of years in Austin, Texas and relocated to the Bay Area where I worked as the Northern California Sales Manager and Health Educator for Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods. In 2016 I met the dharma and found my spiritual home at Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel. I worked there for the next 8 years in various capacities including retreat management, operations, volunteer coordinating, fundraising, administration, and whatever else was needed. During this time I also served as the Spiritual Program Coordinator for Vajrapani Retreat Center in Boulder Creek. 

In the fall of 2022, we relocated to Grass Valley, where we purchased 127 acres of land. We are in the early stages of developing the property with plans to build a home, workshop, retreat cabins and a stupa, envisioning it as a place of both sanctuary and service.

My spiritual practice is primarily rooted in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, but I have had the privilege of studying with many teachers from a variety of schools and lineages. In my spare time I enjoy studying and practicing herbalism and Ayurveda, adventuring, Qigong, and spending time with friends and family.

I feel deeply aligned with the mission of Mountain Stream and am so grateful to be involved with such a beautiful community.

Big Love,

Lauren