Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo are the visionary co-founders of Science and Nonduality (SAND), a global community and leading nonprofit in the space dedicated to exploring the convergence of science, spirituality, and healing. Their work seeks to dissolve the boundaries between disciplines and traditions, fostering dialogues that are both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. Through conferences, films, courses, and intimate conversations, SAND has become a sanctuary for inquiry—where ancient wisdom meets contemporary questions.
Zaya was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, a city where the rhythms of nature and the quiet persistence of old truths shaped her early sense of wonder. From a young age, she found herself drawn to life’s larger questions—not to answer them, but to listen more deeply to their asking. Her path moved through the structured languages of engineering and environmental science, before softening into the artistry of film. In Europe, she stood at the frontlines as an environmental activist. But eventually, it was through storytelling that she began to weave the world she longed for—one where the voice of the Earth and the soul could speak in harmony.
Maurizio’s journey began in Italy, where coastal winds and Renaissance sensibilities shaped his early worldview. In 1984, he sailed across the Atlantic on a ninety-eight-year-old wooden boat, drawn not by a destination, but by a longing. He would go on to spend years as an actor, model, and filmmaker, chasing stories on screen—until one found him instead. In 2001, while filming in India, he came across I Am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. That encounter became a turning point—one that led him inward and reoriented his life around the question of what is truly real.
Zaya and Maurizio's spiritual quests converged in 2007, and at their first meeting, they decided to travel to India for filming Rays of the Absolute, in tribute to the teacher with whom they both felt a deep fascination. From that seed grew not just a film, but a movement. SAND was born—a shared offering to the world, inviting scientists, mystics, artists, and everyday truth-seekers into a space where knowledge meets stillness, and ideas meet intimacy.
Together, they have produced a series of award-winning documentaries, including the highly acclaimed The Wisdom of Trauma (with Gabor Mate), The Art of Life, Where Olive Trees Weep, and If an Owl Calls Your Name. Each film carries a question into the world and returns with a thousand echoes: What does it mean to heal? What does it mean to be human?
In June, they will release The Eternal Song, a new film celebrating the voices of indigenous peoples, their sacred connection to land, and their timeless wisdom. The film is accompanied by twelve sub-films, each spotlighting the unique spirit of different native communities across the globe.
Zaya and Maurizio live in Sebastopol, California, on the unceded ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo peoples. Surrounded by redwoods and wide skies, they continue to live, love, and labor in service of a deeper listening—one that honors the wisdom within and the web that connects us all.
Join us for a conversation with soulful storytellers and seekers of truth, as we journey into the spaces where ancient wisdom meets modern inquiry.
