As part of our North American Pilgrimage I was looking forward to seeing Reverend Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. When just a teenager Roy read the Autobiography of a Yogi and immediately wanted to meet Master. However, he was in Florida and without funds, and Master was in California. Roy was selling door to door when a potential customer asked why he had this job, he explained that his plan was to save money and go out to California to meet this extraordinary man. She told him, If it is that important to you, just go! And so he did, arriving at Master’s doorstep practically penniless. Master made Roy a minister and gave him rare direct permission to give Kriya Initiation during his relative short time, a couple of years, of being with Master before his mahasamadhi.
By prior arrangement we arrived by 9 a.m. at his “Center for Spiritual Awareness” retreat and drove up to the Meditation Hall. Roy’s car was already parked here, and when we walked up to the building he turned the corner to greet us with an easy smile. Roy is tall, a naturally lanky build and at 86 years looks in good health. He has an easy manner, soft spoken and appears to be more at ease with me today than he had been at our two previous meetings.
He asked after my health and guided us into the Meditation Hall where there were marble statues of the Guru-lineage, including one of Roy at the masters’ feet. He described how the craftsmen in India could sit all day chiseling and smoothing the exteriors until they became the likeness of Yoganandaji, Sri Yukteswarji, Lahiri Mahasaya, and Babaji. He said such statues are not usually done until a person is dead, but a devotee had wanted one done of him, so he had sat for photos from different angles and they were sent to India. He also showed us a case with treasures brought back to him from India–several Ganeshas, Hanumans, a 3D yatra, and other assorted statues in a newly added wood and glass case.
The Hall has a wonderful, pure feeling to it, and after a full pronam to the Guru-lineage Carla and I sat with Roy in the three chairs he had arranged. We have a wide-ranging conversation for the next two hours about Master, his work, swamis and the current nature of the world. He first asked after our Group and the Work we do for God and Gurus. I spoke about the extraordinary aspirants and devotees we have, that we meet in small groups in homes, and we abide by the three promises I made to my Gurudev, “Not to advertise, no organization, and to not charge for anything I do in service for God.” This is different than how Master and he have operated, so he listened respectfully.
During the course of our talk I asked him, Looking back now from the distance of many years since being with Master, what stands out in your mind about Master, what is emblazoned in your memories. He thinks a bit, then spoke about how different Master was in person than his public persona. Whe he gave a lecture he was the teacher, there was no doubt about that; he could be funny, tell stories, and all of that, but he was in charge. But, in private, he was softer, intimate, he often sat close to you, he leaned in close (demonstrating by leaning his head in toward an imaginary recipient), and you felt like you were the most important person in the world to him. This was a theme Roy came back to several times, how Master had no air of formality, but was open, human, and available on a personal level.
Roy spoke about how commercial hatha yoga had become. He referred to one magazine in L.A. that used to be quite good, now there were pictures of women in bikinis doing nearly impossible asanas, advertizing clothing and accessories throughout the publication. The last time we met the movie about Master, “Awake,” had just been released and he had expressed his displeasure over it. Today he said that his video man had taken out the parts Roy did not like and what was left was a 30 minute version that was just of Master–without the many commentaries from those who have no direct connection with Yoganandaji. He said he did not release this version, or I would have asked him for a copy.
We talked about our North American Pilgrimage and he asked if we planned to go to Swami Premananda’s church in Washington D.C. (the swami has passed away but there is still a Kriya lineage there). He said that he recently uncovered a letter dated 1950 from Swami Premananda to Swami Satyananda, head of Y.S.S. in India. The contents of the letter stated that “Swami Yogananda” (not Paramhansa) was going to make James J. Lynn head of SRF. Premananda told Satyananda that it would ruin Y.S.S. in India, and that Satyananda should break off all connection with SRF. “Here was Master’s disciple, plotting against him!” Many of those who grew up with Master thought of him as Mukunda, the boy they grew up with, and not who he truly was.
We talked much about the sad state of affairs with many of the Indian swamis, both in America and India. However, he then said that Mother Hamilton had found a real one in Swami Ramdas, and she was fortunate. Like many of Master’s disciples, he may find it puzzling why Mother had to go to another spiritual master in India after Master’s passing. There are those who do not fully comprehend the type of experiences that Mother was to undergo while in India, and that there were no qualified masters in the organization to help Mother go through the terrific experiences of the Mystical Crucifixion after the passing of her guru and Rajasi. Mother herself initially had conflict about going to India, not because she doubted Papa, but because of her loyalty to Master. It was God’s will that this should happen, and it will definitely stand the test of time that both Master and Papa were destined to play essential roles in Mother’s life–of this, there is no doubt. However, I do think it was a very significant comment made by Roy, and not lightly done.
Upon our leaving I feel great love for Roy, an “uncle” in the Kriya lineage. When you look at the various scandal ridden swamis and teachers of recent years, and others who seek to make Master their “property,” it makes my appreciation grow for this God-man and the work he has done for God and Gurus. He is jnani by nature, and he tends to be understated, yet quite open and honest. The list of those living who had close contact with Master is rapidly dwindling, and I feel it a blessing to be with one who Master welcomed in from his first meeting and in whom Master gave rare dispensation to initiate others into Kriya Yoga. Roy has been a boon for many thousands–may Master richly bless him and his work.