Short History of the Kalamazoo Meditation Group

The Kalamazoo Meditation Group has been meeting continuously for meditation services since 1973. For many years services were held in the private residences of members who had generously opened up the doors of their homes to others seeking God- realization through meditation.

The Kalamazoo Meditation Group was formed in 1973. Meeting in a private home on 419 W. Walnut St. in Kalamazoo, the first one hour meditation was held with members Martha, Al and Carol in attendance.

In 1973 the group became the Kalamazoo Meditation Group and moved its meeting location to the home of Mike and Sue on 219 Rose Place, Kalamazoo. By 1975 the group had grown, and the members decided to hold both Sunday and Thursday services. The services were held at Carol’s home at 518 W. Wheaton St. in Kalamazoo. When Carol moved to 515 Arthur Court, the group followed and held services there.

The Summer of 1977 found the group holding services at Carol’s on 355 N. Van Kal Street in Kalamazoo County. In the Fall of 1980 the group moved to the home of Abe, who lived at 2131 Sheffield Drive. Small children were beginning to appear and a Sunday school was formed. It met in the basement. The first Sunday School class students were Hannah, Bethany, Anna, Jason and Ben.

In the Spring of 1981 the meditation group moved to the home of Carol at 51522 29 ½ St near Paw Paw. In the Fall of 1982 Carol moved to the Pine Grove Mobile Home Court on Mill St. in nearby Gobles, and the group followed. In 1984 the group started to hold Thursday evening services at the home of Libby at 34654 32nd St., in rural Paw Paw, while the Sunday services were held at Teddie’s home at at 7651 W. “F” Ave. in Kalamazoo.

Starting in 1989 the group met at the home of Roger and Teresa at 35054 64th Ave, Paw Paw, and for several months in 1993 the Sunday and Thursday services were held at Mac’s home on County Road 665, Paw Paw.

By 1994 many new members had joined so the group and rented office space at the Holiday Terrace Office complex (Suite # ___) on 11th Street in Kalamazoo for use as a chapel. Attendance at services soon outgrew even this space. An ad hoc committee explored the idea of building a chapel during the Fall and Winter of 1996, and presented its concepts to the Kalamazoo Meditation Group for approval in the late Winter of 1996. Thanks to a generous donation of two acres of land by a local member, it was decided to build a chapel in suburban Antwerp Township, east of Paw Paw.

The group remained in the rented office space until the newly constructed chapel at 51755 30th St, Paw Paw, was ready for occupancy. The first services and Sunday school were held in the new chapel in September, 1997, followed by the formal dedication of the chapel in November, 1997.

Highlights of the chapel construction project.

January, 1997 Group approves chapel construction project
March, 1997 Legal partnership formed to administer the project
May, 1997 Zoning approved by Township
May, 1997 Groundbreaking Ceremony.
September, 1997 First worship service
October, 1997 Certificate of Occupancy from Township
November, 1997 Chapel Consecration
October, 1999 Mortgage paid off

As of 2003 the group holds regular weekly Sunday and Thursday meditations, with additional meditations on Tuesday evening. The Sunday School is active, meeting on alternate Sundays. Early Sunday morning meditations are held on some Sundays.

Visits by Monastics of Self-Realization Fellowship

The Kalamazoo Meditation Group has been privileged to host monastics visiting from the International Headquarters in California throughout the years.

In the summer of 1977 Brother Bhaktananda and Brahmachari Jay stopped for a visit on their way to a silent retreat in Cleveland, Ohio. Leading a meditation and then meeting with the devotees, Brother was able to answer many questions posed by the members. Brother was given a tour of the City of Kalamazoo by the members.

In the Fall of 1992 Brother Anilananda and Brahmachari Graham paid a visit. They led a meditation service, went on a fellowship nature walk outing and held an informal satsanga with the members in the evening.

In October, 1997, Brother Satyananda and Brahmachari Martin came out from International Headquarters to dedicate the newly constructed meditation chapel. During the visit Brother conducted a Friday evening public lecture, led a mediation with talk to members and participated in an informal luncheon at the chapel. The dedication service was open to the public on Sunday evening, with 125 individuals attending from all parts of Michigan and surrounding states.

In 1998 Brothers Nakulananda and Ishtananda visited the chapel for several days at the conclusion of a silent retreat in nearby Indiana. The brothers led meditations and gave talks about the spiritual path. A luncheon was hosted by the members at a nearby restaurant.

In June 1999, Brother Satyananda and Brahmachari Terry visited the membership, at the chapel. conducting a day long retreat, and an evening service with satsanga. At this time the deed to the chapel property was passed up through the congregation and turned over to Brother Satyananda. Self-Realization Fellowship officially owned the chapel and property from this point on.

In June 2001, Brothers Bhumananda and Brahmachari James visited the membership at the chapel for several days, and held several meditation services.

In May 2002, Brother Devananda visited with the membership for a day, and led an evening and Sunday meditation service. The group sponsored a picnic on the chapel grounds.

In June 2003, Brother Ishtananda and Brahmachari Abrao conducted a Thursday evening meditation service followed by a Monday afternoon picnic social and evening meditation at the chapel.

During the 2006 visit Brahmacharis Sherman and Rafaele conducted a meditation service with a satsanga followed by a reception and fellowship.

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