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Robbie Wood 3/1/26 Robbie Wood 3/1/26

A Tribute to Roy Eugene Davis

“An enlivening power is nurturing the universe and we can learn to cooperate with it.”

— Roy Eugene Davis

Roy Eugene Davis (March 9, 1931 – March 27, 2019) was born in a farming community in northeastern Ohio. After reading Autobiography of a Yogi in 1949, he traveled to Los Angeles, where he met Paramahansa Yogananda and was accepted for discipleship training. In late 1951, his guru ordained him to teach and initiate others into the Kriya Yoga lifestyle and meditation practices.

For more than sixty years, he taught spiritual growth processes throughout North and South America, Europe, West Africa, and India. He was the founder and director of the Center for Spiritual Awareness. His books have been published in thirteen languages and distributed in eleven countries, and he served as Editor-Publisher of Truth Journal magazine.

Roy Eugene Davis is the guru of Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, Founder and Spiritual Director of The Yoga Hour. March is a particularly auspicious time to honor Mr. Davis, as both his birth and his mahasamadhi occurred during this month. In gratitude for his life and teachings, we offer the many episodes with and about Mr. Davis below.

Conversations with Roy Eugene Davis

Learn about superconscious states—what they are, why they are important, the various ways they can be realized, and how to overcome obstacles that may impede your progress in meditation. Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and author of The Science of Self-Realization, a commentary on the Yoga Sutra, joins Yogacharya O’Brian for a two-part series on spiritual practice for enlightened living.

Intentional living supports our complete well-being and spiritual fulfillment. Find out why self-discipline, study of higher realities, and surrender of the illusional sense of self are essential for spiritual progress and realization. Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and author of The Science of Self-Realization, a commentary on the Yoga Sutra, joins Yogacharya O’Brian for this second conversation in a two-part series on spiritual practice for enlightened living.

What was it like to study with the great yoga master Paramahansa Yogananda? Roy Eugene Davis, one of Paramahansa Yogananda’s last living direct disciples, joins Yogacharya O’Brian for an inspiring conversation about his years with his guru. Learn what Yogananda emphasized as essential for spiritual awakening, how he advised his disciples, and some of the ways he inspired others to live in the highest way. Discover why the Kriya Yoga taught by Yoganandaji is a path of Self- and God-realization especially relevant to truth seekers today.

Is it possible to quicken our spiritual awakening? What practices can help us to progress along our spiritual path? Ever since human beings began to use mental abilities thousands of years ago, their innate urge to be spiritually awake impelled them to want to know their relationship with the Infinite. Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and her guru Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and internationally known spiritual teacher and author, as they discuss practices and actions that will support us in becoming spiritually awake more quickly. Tune in and find out how!

How can we experience rapid, authentic spiritual growth? How can we keep our practice steady and strong? Whether we are new to the spiritual path or are rededicating ourselves to a practice of many years duration, Kriya yoga offers practical spiritual principles, lifestyle guidelines, and meditation techniques that allow us to live a life that is of value to ourselves, to others around us, to the environment, and to the world. Join guest host Dr. Laurel Trujillo and Roy Eugene Davis, direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, as they discuss how energizing and deepening your spiritual practice allows you to live the life you were meant to live.

What does it mean to be spiritually enlightened? Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and her spiritual teacher, Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and internationally known spiritual teacher and author, as they discuss how to become spiritually enlightened in this lifetime. There are six practical things we can all do that support our intention to awaken fully. Tune in and learn about, or be reminded of, these essentials for self-realization.

Spiritual teacher and author Roy Eugene Davis, one of the last living direct disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda, has been sharing the teachings of Kriya yoga for more than 65 years. Tune in as he shares stories and teachings of this great sage.

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Roy Eugene Davis

Paramahansa Yogananda’s faith, devotion, and persistence to know God propelled him to be one of the leading spiritual teachers of all time. His travels throughout India and meetings with saints and sages continue to inspire seekers today. Join Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian and Ron Lindahn, both devoted students of Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, and hear stories of Ron's pilgrimage to places where Yogananda and his spiritual teachers walked. Learn little-known stories of Yogananda that will inspire your own inner pilgrimage of self-discovery.

Yogacharya O’Brian reflects on the remarkable life of Roy Eugene Davis, her teacher for 40 years. We dedicate this program to Roy's memory with deep appreciation for his more than six decades of teaching Kriya yoga.

Marty Wuttke is a long-time disciple of Roy Eugene Davis and the current spiritual director for Mr. Davis' organization, Center for Spiritual Awareness. He shares Mr. Davis’ impact of teaching Kriya Yoga, for over 60 years, to thousands of people across the world.

Roy Eugene Davis (far right) with his guru, Paramahansa Yogananda (left, at podium)

Mr. Davis as minister of the Self-Realization Fellowship center in Phoenix, Arizona

Roy Eugene Davis with Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian at an International Kriya Yoga Congress

Mr. Davis teaching at Center for Spiritual Awareness in Lakemont, GA

Roy Eugene Davis (right) with Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian (left) at Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San Jose, CA

Mr. Davis using technology to teach across the globe

Robbie Wood 2/19/26 Robbie Wood 2/19/26

Embrace The Hero’s Journey Through Francis of Assisi

How did the young and privileged Francis from Assisi become one of the world's most revered saints and a heroic leader who is more relevant now than ever? Author and spiritual teacher Isha Das (Craig Bullock) shares how Francis’ heroic journey is also our heroic journey.

Isha Das is an accomplished teacher, writer, lecturer, and psychotherapist who has authored books and recorded CDs on spirituality and meditation. The former Pastoral Administrator at St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Church, Isha Das earned graduate degrees in Religious Studies from the University of Notre Dame and in Clinical Psychology from the University of Duquesne. His broad and diverse education includes extensive study in psychology, spirituality, mysticism, world religions, and yoga.

Isha Das is the spiritual director of The Assisi Institute in Rochester, New York

This episode discusses Isha Das’ book Merchant to Mystic, The Hero's Journey of St. Francis of Assisi

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I enjoyed discussing the interface between mystical Christianity and Kriya Yoga with Isha Das, author of the book Merchant to Mystic: The Hero’s Journey of Francis of Assisi. As he points out, we become the hero that we admire, so reflecting on our heroes and heroines, and understanding more about their journey is important. Francis’ journey is an inspiring one, from being born into a wealthy family and living a worldly life through hardships that wounded him, to his time spent in silence and contemplation leading to his mission to rebuild the church. Our discussion about the householder spiritual path, the importance of silence, and the similarity between the yoga practice of self-surrender and the Christian vow of poverty was illuminating.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This conversation with Isha Das explores St. Franscis’ hero’s journey of self-surrender. The discussion brings into focus the essence of kriya yoga in Christianity. St. Francis’ mantra was “Who are you? And who am I?”. That is the heart of awakening. The listener can get the experience of how time in silence, listening to the still small voice within, brought St. Francis to follow his spiritual path in ever-new joy. That joy with self-surrender and Grace eventually grew into the Franciscan order. Don’t miss this heart-felt podcast.