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A Tribute to Roy Eugene Davis
“An enlivening power is nurturing the universe and we can learn to cooperate with it.”
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
Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of the great yoga master Paramahansa Yogananda, joins Rev. O'Brian to share his experiences with Paramahansaji documented in his book, Paramahansa Yogananda as I Knew Him. Intimate reflections on the transformations possible in the life of a devotee of God offer powerful insights and inspiration for the path of enlightenment.
Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, joins Rev. O’Brian in an exploration of higher realities. Discover what we can know about our essence of being and our relationship with the Infinite that supports us to actualize our innate capacities and experience excellence in all areas of life.
Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, returns to the Yoga Hour for an insightful conversation with Ellen Grace O'Brian about the timeless wisdom found in The Bhagavad Gita. When explored as an allegory, where characters and events symbolize every person’s spiritual journey of awakening from self-conscious involvement with physical and psychological circumstances to realization of our essential nature, the Gita becomes a treasured guidebook to authentic spiritual growth and fulfilled living.
Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, offers spiritual insights and practical tools from the tradition of Kriya Yoga to facilitate spiritually conscious living every day. Rev. O’Brian welcomes her spiritual teacher back to The Yoga Hour with this conversation that explores the pure simplicity of spiritual enlightenment and its accessibility for spiritual seekers today.
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.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Roy Eugene Davis
Roy Eugene Davis
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 teaching in the 1980s
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
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.
Isha Das (Craig Bullock)
Live Fully and Deeply From Your Soul Every Day
Catherine Duncan, author, spiritual teacher, and ordained minister, shares five simple practices that can bring more peace, love, meaning, and embodied aliveness into our lives. We can live as the spiritually awakened beings that we are, every day.
Catherine Duncan
Catherine Duncan is an author, ordained minister, and integrative spiritual consultant. In her private practice, she companions individuals who are struggling with chronic illness, life transitions, grief and loss, and those searching for more meaning and purpose. Catherine is also a consultant for Minnesota Personalized Medicine, an integrative medical practice in Minneapolis.
This episode discusses Catherine’s book, Everyday Awakening: Five Practices for Living Fully, Feeling Deeply, and Coming Into Your Heart and Soul
WEBSITE: www.catherineduncan.org
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Catherine Duncan, author of the book Everyday Awakening, and I discussed awakening as a process of waking up and living more fully from our essence, our soul nature, every day. The five practices that Catherine sets forth include bringing ourselves fully present in this moment utilizing awareness of our body and our senses, and connecting with something greater than ourselves although we don’t have to call it God. We can grow our trust, embody love, and hold openness. These five practices are simple but not easy, and can bring us more fully awake and alive.
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: I really enjoyed the conversation with Catherine Duncan today, focusing on her book Every Day Awakening: Five Practices for Living Fully, Feeling Deeply, and Coming Into Your Heart and Soul. Through her own personal experiences, her years of hospital chaplaincy as well as her experiences with spiritual direction clients Catherine has developed five practices that can support us in spiritually awakened living every day, in every moment. Dr. Trujillo also shared how Kriya Yoga and its practices are in alignment with Catherine's experiences. Ms. Duncan also offers simple exercises and techniques to easily bring these practices into our daily lives. I definitely recommend this program to all of those who want to live a spiritually deeper life every day.