We are a community that believe the sharing of Divine love in the spirit of peace, service and humility is our highest purpose.
Founders
- Lead Silent Retreats in Assisi, Italy, Bali, Indonesia and at monasteries in the Santa Barbara Area.
- At their home & center they offer guidance into the silence and heartfulness meditation, 2-9 day courses (up to 5 guests)
Bruce Davis, PhD
Bruce has been guiding retreats worldwide since 1983 and leads the daily sitting meditations. He is the author of the best selling books including The Magical Child Within You, The Heart of Healing, Monastery Without Walls, The Calling of Joy, Simple Peace of St. Francis of Assisi and The Love Letters of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi.. His teachings are based in his deep connection to silence, simplicity and heartfulness. He has a gift for guiding people from the busy-ness of the mind into the wisdom of the quiet heart. Bruce taught East-West spirituality at the School of Consciousness, JFK University. He is a teacher of world religions and combines psychology and spirituality to create a rich understanding of human potential. "As awareness rests in the heart, an indescribable joy from within unfolds." Bruce Davis |
Ruth Davis
Ruth has been practicing meditation since 1968 when she went to India and embraced a heart path of meditation and devotion. There she was initiated into Surat Shabd Yoga. A lifelong student of philosophies from East and West she as the gift to help people connect to their spiritual heart to deepen meditation practice. As part of each retreat she offers each person a private meditation dialogue session to find it for themselves. Educated at Mills College she studied and performed Ballet, Modern, Jazz, African and Russian Folk. She continued her study to include the energy modalities of Tai Chi, Chi Gung and energy healing. She holds certifications in Medical Hypnotherapy and NLP. Since 2005 she has devoted her spiritual studies to the MahaVidyas, the Wisdom Mothers of India. She has written 2 books and created a devotional movement ritual from this practice. "A retreat is a time to come home inside yourself, where the mind stops and silence of the heart begins." Ruth Davis |
The work of Bruce and Ruth Davis
Together from 1993 - 2000 Bruce and Ruth ran a program leading teenagers into the streets of San Francisco to feed homeless people that continues till this day.
They have created two retreat centers in Assisi, Italy where they lived for 12 years and currently live and teach in California.
Their Assisi Retreats were honored as "One of the World's Top Ten Meditation Retreats" by CNN and Travel & Leisure Magazine. Their Assisi ecumenical center was officially blessed by Pope John Paul II. Bruce has been a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post.
Their Silent Stay Retreat Center in Northern California was taken by the fires of the summer of 2020 near Lake Berryessa and they are building a new day use facility in Montecito California (subject to permissions). They hope to be open by Winter of 2022.
Currently they offer online meditation on The Gifts of Silence to guests in over 21 Countries. LINK
They have created two retreat centers in Assisi, Italy where they lived for 12 years and currently live and teach in California.
Their Assisi Retreats were honored as "One of the World's Top Ten Meditation Retreats" by CNN and Travel & Leisure Magazine. Their Assisi ecumenical center was officially blessed by Pope John Paul II. Bruce has been a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post.
Their Silent Stay Retreat Center in Northern California was taken by the fires of the summer of 2020 near Lake Berryessa and they are building a new day use facility in Montecito California (subject to permissions). They hope to be open by Winter of 2022.
Currently they offer online meditation on The Gifts of Silence to guests in over 21 Countries. LINK
Nicole Becker, Community Director & Retreat Leader located in San Francisco Bay Area & Founder of Ojas Yoga Center
Nicole is our Community Director. She leads our Infinite Heart Meditation Course and online access to a video library of meditations. She is has her own Yoga School called Ojas Yoga Center. With compassion and clarity Nicole reveals the wisdom of the ages. Having studied the philosophies and practices of Yoga, Tantra, Ayurveda, and devotion for the past 25 years, she brings the teachings of, accepting our humanness & recognizing our innate wholeness, alive.
She currently teaches heart-centered meditation and therapeutic yoga and leads Silent Yoga Retreats at Silent Stay. For the past 15 years she has studied and taught alongside her parents, Ruth and Bruce Davis.
Nicole is our Community Director. She leads our Infinite Heart Meditation Course and online access to a video library of meditations. She is has her own Yoga School called Ojas Yoga Center. With compassion and clarity Nicole reveals the wisdom of the ages. Having studied the philosophies and practices of Yoga, Tantra, Ayurveda, and devotion for the past 25 years, she brings the teachings of, accepting our humanness & recognizing our innate wholeness, alive.
She currently teaches heart-centered meditation and therapeutic yoga and leads Silent Yoga Retreats at Silent Stay. For the past 15 years she has studied and taught alongside her parents, Ruth and Bruce Davis.
Brenda Brisch, Retreat Leader in Assisi Italy
Brenda has been lovingly guiding contemplative retreats for over 40 years and has devoted much of her life to spiritual inquiry. After practicing Transcendental Meditation in the 1970’s, she studied Vedanta philosophy and yoga with an Indian monk from Gujarat. She began teaching Hatha Yoga in his school in Chicago shortly thereafter.
In 1976, she met her teacher, Swami Muktananda, with whom she traveled widely for many years. She became a monk under his auspices, and he instructed her to continue teaching in Europe, India, and the United States. She was the swami in residence at his ashram in Paris.
She joined the Silent Stay community of retreat leaders in 2016, teaching in California and Assisi, Italy. Brenda helps people discover their own pathway to inner peace, and to understand that all of life’s circumstances are a guide to finding the stillness within.
Brenda has been lovingly guiding contemplative retreats for over 40 years and has devoted much of her life to spiritual inquiry. After practicing Transcendental Meditation in the 1970’s, she studied Vedanta philosophy and yoga with an Indian monk from Gujarat. She began teaching Hatha Yoga in his school in Chicago shortly thereafter.
In 1976, she met her teacher, Swami Muktananda, with whom she traveled widely for many years. She became a monk under his auspices, and he instructed her to continue teaching in Europe, India, and the United States. She was the swami in residence at his ashram in Paris.
She joined the Silent Stay community of retreat leaders in 2016, teaching in California and Assisi, Italy. Brenda helps people discover their own pathway to inner peace, and to understand that all of life’s circumstances are a guide to finding the stillness within.
David Nowe, Retreat Leader, Assisi Italy
David attended Columbia University, Jesuit College and has traveled the world. He has explored many cultures and traditions including living in Hindu Ashram, Buddhist Monastery, Muslim community in India, France, Japan and Lebanon. Through the years he discovered the universal truths embracing all religions. In 1995 David was one of the founders of the God Realization Ministry at the Unity Church of Tustin in California. David has since brought his ministry to over 200 New Thought churches around the world. David has a unique gift of seeing love in everyone and welcoming people of all traditions. He is currently the retreat director of www.AssisiRetreats.org.
David attended Columbia University, Jesuit College and has traveled the world. He has explored many cultures and traditions including living in Hindu Ashram, Buddhist Monastery, Muslim community in India, France, Japan and Lebanon. Through the years he discovered the universal truths embracing all religions. In 1995 David was one of the founders of the God Realization Ministry at the Unity Church of Tustin in California. David has since brought his ministry to over 200 New Thought churches around the world. David has a unique gift of seeing love in everyone and welcoming people of all traditions. He is currently the retreat director of www.AssisiRetreats.org.
Igusti Ngr Oka Adiputra El Aleph, Retreat Guide Bali, Indonesia
Gusti, native to Bali, lives in a area near the Mother Temple. He lovingly guides us to the sacred places, temples and ceremonies. He is a bright light representing the beauty and wholeness of Balinese culture and spirituality. His warm open heart is a gift to us all. He has become a village leader and collects donation to bring food to those in need.
Gusti, native to Bali, lives in a area near the Mother Temple. He lovingly guides us to the sacred places, temples and ceremonies. He is a bright light representing the beauty and wholeness of Balinese culture and spirituality. His warm open heart is a gift to us all. He has become a village leader and collects donation to bring food to those in need.
In Gratitude
We are honored to share the peace with our beautiful community of teachers. Their extensive commitment to spiritual practice, community life, and a heart full journey is a gift to everyone.
The ongoing presence of peace
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