What do you think?
Rate this book
Paramahansa Yogananda: As I Knew Him
Roy Eugene Davis met his guru, Paramahansa Yogananda on Christmas eve 1949. It is rare that a direct disciple of a master of yoga shares an intimate account of that relationship and describes the psychological and spiritual transformations that can occur. In this informative book the reader is introduced to a realm of experience and knowledge that is not ordinarily accessible. Mr. Davis has taught meditation and spiritual growth processes in North and South America, Europe, West Africa, Japan and India for more than 50 years. His books have been published in 10 languages. He is the founder and spiritual director of Center for Spiritual Awareness with International Headquarters in north Georgia.
142 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2005
7 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 27, 2013
I love reading personal accounts of people's experiences with Paramahansa Yogananda, and ROy Eugene Davis shares quite a few stories of his time with Yogananda. Davis met Yogananda in December 1949 at the age of 18 and spent quite a bit of time with him as a disciple until Yogananda's passing in March 1952. One story in particular stood out for me. It's such a beautiful and tender glimpse into Yogananda's loving heart. Here it is:
I once experienced an episode of frustration, the cause of which I could not determine. I had every reason to be happy, but I wasn't, and I didn't know what to do to solve the problem. I telephoned Faye Wright and asked to talk with Master. She told me to go to the SRF Hermitage in Encinitas and that she would tell him that I had called.
The following evening, at the Encinitas Center, I went to the Hermitage. Leo Cocks, a brother disciple, was with me. Master came into the room and sat on a couch. He talked briefly with Leo, then asked him to go into the other room.
He motioned for me to sit beside him and gently asked, "What's the matter" Through a flood of tears that suddenly erupted, I said, "I don't know."
He put his arms around me, pulled me close, and held me as I cried on his shoulder. When the torrent of tears subsided, he asked, "Are you all right now?" I was.
I once experienced an episode of frustration, the cause of which I could not determine. I had every reason to be happy, but I wasn't, and I didn't know what to do to solve the problem. I telephoned Faye Wright and asked to talk with Master. She told me to go to the SRF Hermitage in Encinitas and that she would tell him that I had called.
The following evening, at the Encinitas Center, I went to the Hermitage. Leo Cocks, a brother disciple, was with me. Master came into the room and sat on a couch. He talked briefly with Leo, then asked him to go into the other room.
He motioned for me to sit beside him and gently asked, "What's the matter" Through a flood of tears that suddenly erupted, I said, "I don't know."
He put his arms around me, pulled me close, and held me as I cried on his shoulder. When the torrent of tears subsided, he asked, "Are you all right now?" I was.
June 8, 2024
I was a little surprised when I received this book as only about half of the edition I have is actually a memoir of Mr. Davis' time with Paramahansa Yogananda. The other half of the book is comprised of Q&As, essays and an extensive glossary of kriya yoga terms.
I actually liked the second half better.
Here's a gem from the Q&A section:
"Q) When friends ask why God allows pain and suffering in the world, what can I tell them?
A) To friends who have a rigid, fundamentalist concept of God, there isn't anything to be said that will be helpful. To friends who are receptive to understanding, explain that God is not a cosmic person who causes pain or suffering. People cause their own misfortune with their thoughts and actions; are influenced by their environmental conditions or personal relationships; have inherited tendencies they may need to overcome; may be affected by social or economic conditions; or by forces of Nature if they are where earthquakes, severe storms, or other destructive natural events occur."
One of the qualities that I like best about Mr. Davis' writing is his frankness. It's very refreshing.
I actually liked the second half better.
Here's a gem from the Q&A section:
"Q) When friends ask why God allows pain and suffering in the world, what can I tell them?
A) To friends who have a rigid, fundamentalist concept of God, there isn't anything to be said that will be helpful. To friends who are receptive to understanding, explain that God is not a cosmic person who causes pain or suffering. People cause their own misfortune with their thoughts and actions; are influenced by their environmental conditions or personal relationships; have inherited tendencies they may need to overcome; may be affected by social or economic conditions; or by forces of Nature if they are where earthquakes, severe storms, or other destructive natural events occur."
One of the qualities that I like best about Mr. Davis' writing is his frankness. It's very refreshing.
September 19, 2012
OK . . . so he knew him and occasionally got a god-head pat on the noggin when he wasn't sent off to farm goats in Arizona, but I feel like any confused 17 year old who had just torn through Autobiography of a Yogi would have a more exciting story to tell.
How you make something like this boring is beyond me, but do not read this book while operating heavy machinery.
Autobiography of a Yogi
How you make something like this boring is beyond me, but do not read this book while operating heavy machinery.
Autobiography of a Yogi
September 21, 2017
Excellent Account
Davis gives a forthright and transparent account of his calling to discipleship with Yogananda. Neither were his 'eyes of reason' poked out with his initiation.
His insights confirmed my own on several issues: most notably that Yogananda does not take disciples since his passing. In addition Yogananda has many enlightened disciples who have become gurus. This matches Yogananda's teaching (in my view) that God is the one who ordains the guru.
I have never accepted SRF's apparent teaching that its ministers are spiritual eunuchs.
Likewise Davis gives more stories and anecdotes of Yogananda's style of discipline.
Davis gives a forthright and transparent account of his calling to discipleship with Yogananda. Neither were his 'eyes of reason' poked out with his initiation.
His insights confirmed my own on several issues: most notably that Yogananda does not take disciples since his passing. In addition Yogananda has many enlightened disciples who have become gurus. This matches Yogananda's teaching (in my view) that God is the one who ordains the guru.
I have never accepted SRF's apparent teaching that its ministers are spiritual eunuchs.
Likewise Davis gives more stories and anecdotes of Yogananda's style of discipline.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews