Our Heart Team
We are a community of equals that believe the sharing of Divine Love in the spirit of peace, service and humility is our highest purpose. Our founders Ruth and Bruce Davis currently teach in Santa Barbara, California full time.
Each day the retreat leader provides a contemplation practice that guides the day. They are available for one on one meditation guidance or spiritual counseling as well. Sitting with teachers that have practiced for many years deepens everyone's practice. Our intention is to see everyone as an anchor of peace.
We are dedicating our time to support each person, with kindness, understanding and to receive the unique peace of Assisi.
Each day the retreat leader provides a contemplation practice that guides the day. They are available for one on one meditation guidance or spiritual counseling as well. Sitting with teachers that have practiced for many years deepens everyone's practice. Our intention is to see everyone as an anchor of peace.
We are dedicating our time to support each person, with kindness, understanding and to receive the unique peace of Assisi.
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Vinod Ravindranathan - Retreat Leader
Vinod has been practicing meditation for over 30 years. In 1994 he was trained in Vipassana at the Wat Ram Poeng monastery in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Although not a buddhist monk, he accomplished the same degree of training. A few years later he earned his Mindfulness Teacher Training from Bangor University. He currently facilitates the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course in London. In the earlier part of his career, he worked in the corporate world as a lawyer before joining various non-profit organisations including; the UNHCR and Amnesty International Secretariat in London. In Amnesty International he helped people dealing with sexual & gender equality, migrant & refugee rights, compassionate care for drug addicts and animal welfare. Vinod finds joy in sharing the heart practices of St Francis as a guide to inner peace. Follow Vinods work in London here One on one Guidance Text here |
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Liam Murphy - Retreat Leader
Liam entered Saint Charles Seminary in Philidelphia at the age of 18 and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1990. He worked with the Latino community for 32 years as a parish priest, which led him to serve in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico for 4 years. In 2015, he opened a store-front church in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, Mother of Mercy House, to be a Presence of Peace in an area torn apart by violence, poverty and drugs. In 2022 Liam discerned a call to a more all-inclusive ministry that encourages the development of the mystic in every person. Convinced that SILENCE leads us to our true self and to an ever-increasing awareness of the interconnectedness of all Creation, he seeks ways to accompany those seeking such unity and peace: all hearts beating in unison with each other inside the One Heart. Assisi, the home of peace and inclusive to all, is why he chose to be a part of the Assisi Team bringing love to all. |
Brenda Brisch - Retreat Leader
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. He instructed her to continue teaching in Europe, India, and the United States. She was the swami in residence in the Paris ashram.
She joined the Assisi Retreat Community of retreat leaders in 2015. Brenda is our lead retreat leader with extensive background in awareness training. She helps people discover their unique pathway to inner peace, and to understand that all of life’s circumstances are a guide to finding the stillness within. She gently guides people into the sweetness & peace St Francis & St Clare inspire. She is a student of the Course in Miracles and Kashmir Shaivism. She brings great wisdom, love and joy to her retreats.
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. He instructed her to continue teaching in Europe, India, and the United States. She was the swami in residence in the Paris ashram.
She joined the Assisi Retreat Community of retreat leaders in 2015. Brenda is our lead retreat leader with extensive background in awareness training. She helps people discover their unique pathway to inner peace, and to understand that all of life’s circumstances are a guide to finding the stillness within. She gently guides people into the sweetness & peace St Francis & St Clare inspire. She is a student of the Course in Miracles and Kashmir Shaivism. She brings great wisdom, love and joy to her retreats.
David Nowe - Retreat Leader
David has been teaching Yoga philosophy for more than 40 years globally and has been a retreat leader for Assisi Retreats since 2014. He was the oldest of a family of 13 children of a large Catholic family.
At the age of 20 he was initiated and trained by Swami Muktananda and became one of his teachers. He has served as National Coordinator and Spiritual Director for SYDA Foundation. Later, he founded “The God Realization Ministry” which brought meditation into more than 200 churches in the US.
Currently he lives 6 months in India every year leading the Second Education Initiative, a venture which is bringing meditation into the school system of India. More than 30 universities have signed on to the program offering this comprehensive curriculum.
He has a huge heart and welcomes all to find their home in their heart. He is deeply connected to the humility and service of St Francis to all and everyone.
David has been teaching Yoga philosophy for more than 40 years globally and has been a retreat leader for Assisi Retreats since 2014. He was the oldest of a family of 13 children of a large Catholic family.
At the age of 20 he was initiated and trained by Swami Muktananda and became one of his teachers. He has served as National Coordinator and Spiritual Director for SYDA Foundation. Later, he founded “The God Realization Ministry” which brought meditation into more than 200 churches in the US.
Currently he lives 6 months in India every year leading the Second Education Initiative, a venture which is bringing meditation into the school system of India. More than 30 universities have signed on to the program offering this comprehensive curriculum.
He has a huge heart and welcomes all to find their home in their heart. He is deeply connected to the humility and service of St Francis to all and everyone.
Founders Bruce and Ruth Davis
"As awareness rests in the heart, an indescribable joy from within unfolds." Bruce Davis
Bruce Davis PhD Co-Founder
Bruce is a spiritual psychologist, international retreat guide, and author, holding a doctorate from Saybrook University. His work emphasizes the integration of psychology and spirituality to foster a more centered and fulfilling life. He has taught world religions at institutions like JFK University in Pleasant Hill, California, and various spiritual centers across the United States and Europe, including Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland.
Since 1983, Bruce has guided retreats worldwide, focusing on silence, simplicity, and heartfulness. He is recognized for his ability to help people shift their focus from the busy mind to the "quiet heart." He also specializes in supporting individuals integrating profound experiences, such as Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) or spiritual awakenings, into their daily lives, with the core intention of helping others develop a meaningful, joyful spiritual journey.
His literary contributions began in 1975 with The Magical Child Within You, considered by many to be the first book written on nurturing the inner child. He later co-authored the best-selling book, Hugs & Kisses, which established a career-long theme of loving life.
Bruce's focus on discovering the heart of awareness and inner peace has defined his retreats. For twelve years, he and his partner, Ruth, lived in Assisi, Italy, where they founded the Assisi Retreat Center. The center, which welcomed people of all backgrounds to experience the simple peace of St. Francis of Assisi, received an official blessing from Pope John Paul II for its ecumenical work and was named "One of the Top Ten Meditation Centers in the World" by both CNN and Travel & Leisure Magazine. In 2012, Bruce and Ruth established the Silent Stay Meditation Center in California, intending to provide a sanctuary for all who seek inner peace and a purposeful, joyful life.
Throughout his life, Bruce has sought deep spiritual knowledge, studying and living with teachers in India, the Philippines, Germany, and Bali, Indonesia. He and Ruth also initiated an ongoing service program that pairs teenagers from affluent communities with students from Branson School in Ross, California, to provide food to the poorest neighborhoods of San Francisco.
Books by Bruce include:
Bruce is a spiritual psychologist, international retreat guide, and author, holding a doctorate from Saybrook University. His work emphasizes the integration of psychology and spirituality to foster a more centered and fulfilling life. He has taught world religions at institutions like JFK University in Pleasant Hill, California, and various spiritual centers across the United States and Europe, including Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland.
Since 1983, Bruce has guided retreats worldwide, focusing on silence, simplicity, and heartfulness. He is recognized for his ability to help people shift their focus from the busy mind to the "quiet heart." He also specializes in supporting individuals integrating profound experiences, such as Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) or spiritual awakenings, into their daily lives, with the core intention of helping others develop a meaningful, joyful spiritual journey.
His literary contributions began in 1975 with The Magical Child Within You, considered by many to be the first book written on nurturing the inner child. He later co-authored the best-selling book, Hugs & Kisses, which established a career-long theme of loving life.
Bruce's focus on discovering the heart of awareness and inner peace has defined his retreats. For twelve years, he and his partner, Ruth, lived in Assisi, Italy, where they founded the Assisi Retreat Center. The center, which welcomed people of all backgrounds to experience the simple peace of St. Francis of Assisi, received an official blessing from Pope John Paul II for its ecumenical work and was named "One of the Top Ten Meditation Centers in the World" by both CNN and Travel & Leisure Magazine. In 2012, Bruce and Ruth established the Silent Stay Meditation Center in California, intending to provide a sanctuary for all who seek inner peace and a purposeful, joyful life.
Throughout his life, Bruce has sought deep spiritual knowledge, studying and living with teachers in India, the Philippines, Germany, and Bali, Indonesia. He and Ruth also initiated an ongoing service program that pairs teenagers from affluent communities with students from Branson School in Ross, California, to provide food to the poorest neighborhoods of San Francisco.
Books by Bruce include:
- The Magical Child Within You
- Hugs and Kisses
- The Heart of Healing
- Monastery without Walls ~ Daily Life in the Silence
- My Little Flowers, Simple Peace ~ The Inner Life of St Francis of Assisi
- The Calling of Joy
- The Love Letters of St Francis & St Clare of Assisi
- Unveiling the Heart of Awareness
"A retreat is a time to come home inside yourself, where the mind stops and silence of the heart begins." Ruth Davis
Ruth Davis: Spiritual Teacher, and Retreat Leader
Ruth Davis is a spiritual therapist and retreat leader whose journey began with a profound spiritual awakening at age six during her first ballet class. In that moment, her heart connected with the divine, filling her with a radiant joy and a boundless love for all existence. This early experience set the course for a lifelong devotional practice, viewing dance as a path to God.
The Path of Movement and Meditation
Her extensive dance training, which includes Modern, Jazz, African, Russian folk, and Interpretive styles, has always been devotional. It incorporates the energetic studies of Qi Gong and inner Yoga, focusing on the movement of consciousness beyond the physical body to a higher state of awareness.
In 1968, at the age of 16, Ruth embraced Surat Shabd Yoga from the Punjab region of India as her core spiritual path. Following her initiation, she embarked on travels to holy sites across India, including the Punjab region, Rishikesh, Hardwar, Varanasi, and Tiruvannamalai. She remains a dedicated student of Vedic, Tantric wisdom, and Mystic Catholicism, with a particular connection to the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, the silent saint.
Ruth studied dance, music and philosophy at Mills College in Oakland, CA. She holds professional certifications in Qi Gong, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Neuro Linguistic Programming, and Ayurvedic education.
She is also a mother of two daughters and a grandmother of two. Following the death of her first husband in 1993, she began leading spiritual retreats worldwide with her current partner, Bruce Davis, PhD.
In 2000, Ruth and Bruce founded the Assisi Retreat Center, a Temple to the World Religions located in the ancient Italian city of Assisi, and opened Silent Stay Assisi in 2002.
While living and teaching in Assisi in 2005, Ruth began an intensive study of the MahaVidyas (Wisdom Mothers of Yoga Tantra)—a practice she continues to this day. This deep immersion led to three core contributions:
Silent Stay: The Enduring Peace
In 2010, Ruth and Bruce established the Silent Stay Meditation Center in Vacaville, California, bringing the retreat experience from Assisi to the United States. In 2020, the center was tragically destroyed in a wildfire. Ruth views this event as an experience of profound spiritual surrender—likening it to releasing an intricate, lifelong sand mandala to the inevitable flow of the ocean waves. While Silent Stay Vacaville was swept away, the core principle remained: the unshakeable peace found in the silence, which can never be taken or destroyed.
Ruth and her husband Bruce Davis currently live and work in Montecito, California, and continue to lead silent retreats at the Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Ruth provides private sessions and guidance into the Spiritual Heart, for those seeking a deeper path into their essence, the energetic core of their being, where we are all one with the Absolute.
Ruth Davis is a spiritual therapist and retreat leader whose journey began with a profound spiritual awakening at age six during her first ballet class. In that moment, her heart connected with the divine, filling her with a radiant joy and a boundless love for all existence. This early experience set the course for a lifelong devotional practice, viewing dance as a path to God.
The Path of Movement and Meditation
Her extensive dance training, which includes Modern, Jazz, African, Russian folk, and Interpretive styles, has always been devotional. It incorporates the energetic studies of Qi Gong and inner Yoga, focusing on the movement of consciousness beyond the physical body to a higher state of awareness.
In 1968, at the age of 16, Ruth embraced Surat Shabd Yoga from the Punjab region of India as her core spiritual path. Following her initiation, she embarked on travels to holy sites across India, including the Punjab region, Rishikesh, Hardwar, Varanasi, and Tiruvannamalai. She remains a dedicated student of Vedic, Tantric wisdom, and Mystic Catholicism, with a particular connection to the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, the silent saint.
Ruth studied dance, music and philosophy at Mills College in Oakland, CA. She holds professional certifications in Qi Gong, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Neuro Linguistic Programming, and Ayurvedic education.
She is also a mother of two daughters and a grandmother of two. Following the death of her first husband in 1993, she began leading spiritual retreats worldwide with her current partner, Bruce Davis, PhD.
In 2000, Ruth and Bruce founded the Assisi Retreat Center, a Temple to the World Religions located in the ancient Italian city of Assisi, and opened Silent Stay Assisi in 2002.
While living and teaching in Assisi in 2005, Ruth began an intensive study of the MahaVidyas (Wisdom Mothers of Yoga Tantra)—a practice she continues to this day. This deep immersion led to three core contributions:
- Spiritual Heart Connection: The ability to guide students to connect with their spiritual heart, inner wisdom, and core of being, where all answers are accessible.
- Sacred Movement Ritual: A meditative movement practice, in the style of Chi Gung, that integrates spiritual lessons and energetic practices.
- Published Works: Two influential books: Sacred Movement Ritual, Yoga Philosophy in Movement and Journeying up the Mountain with the Tantric Goddesses, an Initiation into the 10 Cosmic Powers.
Silent Stay: The Enduring Peace
In 2010, Ruth and Bruce established the Silent Stay Meditation Center in Vacaville, California, bringing the retreat experience from Assisi to the United States. In 2020, the center was tragically destroyed in a wildfire. Ruth views this event as an experience of profound spiritual surrender—likening it to releasing an intricate, lifelong sand mandala to the inevitable flow of the ocean waves. While Silent Stay Vacaville was swept away, the core principle remained: the unshakeable peace found in the silence, which can never be taken or destroyed.
Ruth and her husband Bruce Davis currently live and work in Montecito, California, and continue to lead silent retreats at the Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Ruth provides private sessions and guidance into the Spiritual Heart, for those seeking a deeper path into their essence, the energetic core of their being, where we are all one with the Absolute.
Administration
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Robin Klaassen Adinistrative Assistant
Joining her first Yoga and Meditation classes at age nine, Robin has since been interested in the practice of Conscious Being and Spirituality with child-like wonder. Still very much at the beginning of her own spiritual journey, she is devoted to living with her heart first. Robin lovingly handles your registration requests as an administrative assistant, and is there for you to answer any additional questions you might have about traveling, the retreats, or Assisi itself. |
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In Gratitude
In gratitude, we are honored that Brenda, Vinod, Liam, Marianne and Robin are a part of the Assisi Heart Team. Their extensive commitment to spiritual practice, community life, and a heart full journey is a gift to everyone.