Roy Eugene Davis (1931–2019)
Kriya Yoga Master, Author, and Founder of Center for Spiritual Awareness
Roy Eugene Davis was an American spiritual teacher, author, and ordained minister in the tradition of Kriya Yoga, best known as a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, the celebrated author of Autobiography of a Yogi. For more than six decades, Davis dedicated his life to teaching the timeless principles of yoga, meditation, and self-realization to seekers around the world.

Early Life and Discipleship
Born in Leavittsburg, Ohio, USA, in 1931, Davis showed a deep spiritual inclination from a young age. At the age of 18, he read Autobiography of a Yogi, which profoundly transformed his life and inspired him to seek out its author, Paramahansa Yogananda.

In 1949, Davis met Yogananda at the headquarters of the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) in Los Angeles, where he was accepted as a disciple and personally trained by the great master. During his years with Yogananda, Davis received initiation in Kriya Yoga, an ancient meditation technique revived in modern times by Lahiri Mahasaya and transmitted through the lineage of Sri Yukteswar and Yogananda.

Teaching Career
After Yogananda’s passing in 1952, Davis was ordained to teach and began his ministry work, traveling across the United States and abroad to share the teachings of Kriya Yoga, meditation, and spiritual awakening.

He founded the Center for Spiritual Awareness (CSA) in Lakemont, Georgia, in the early 1970s — a nonsectarian teaching center and retreat facility dedicated to the dissemination of yoga philosophy and the practice of meditation. CSA became a global hub for spiritual aspirants, offering retreats, publications, and correspondence courses.

Philosophy and Teachings
Roy Eugene Davis emphasized a balanced spiritual life — integrating meditation, right action, clear thinking, and selfless service. His teachings echoed the essential Kriya Yoga principles of:

Direct God-realization through inner awakening

Self-discipline, meditation, and introspection

Living consciously, healthfully, and harmoniously

Freedom from karma through self-knowledge and divine grace

He was known for his clarity, simplicity, and directness — presenting ancient teachings in language accessible to the modern spiritual seeker.

Publications
A prolific author, Davis wrote more than a dozen books and numerous articles on yoga philosophy and spiritual practice. Some of his most acclaimed works include:

Paramahansa Yogananda: As I Knew Him
A Master Guide to Meditation
The Path of Light: A Guide to 21st Century Discipleship and Spiritual Practice
The Science of Kriya Yoga
The Eternal Way: The Inner Meaning of the Bhagavad Gita

His writings have been translated into many languages and distributed worldwide, continuing to inspire readers long after his passing.

Later Years and Legacy
Until his transition in March 2019, Roy Eugene Davis continued to teach and guide students globally through lectures, books, and the CSA newsletter Truth Journal. His gentle presence, disciplined lifestyle, and unwavering devotion to spiritual truth left a lasting impression on thousands.

Today, his Center for Spiritual Awareness continues his mission, preserving and sharing his teachings on Kriya Yoga and conscious living for future generations.