The Chicago Meditation
Group officially begins on February 28, 1963. The SRF Center
Department's official notification letter to the
members is dated March 1, 1963. The group meets at the home of a
member in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, on Friday
evenings at 7:00 pm.
1964
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts an SRF Center tour in September, with Brother
Anandamoy, Ernest Pesseux and Mrs. Vickerman, at the
Morrison Hotel.
1965
The Morrison Hotel is
demolished. The site is now occupied by Chase Tower
(formerly Bank One Plaza) at 21
South Clark Street in downtown Chicago.
1968
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts an SRF Center Tour in October, with Brother
Mokshananda, Brahmachari Rothwell, and Mrs. Vickerman.
1972
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts an SRF Center Tour in May with Brother
Mokshananda and Brahmachari Isaac.
1973
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts an SRF Center Tour in September with Brother
Bhavananda and Brother Dharmananda.
1973-1974
The Chicago Meditation
Group moves, and meets for a short time at the home of a
member in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood.
1974
Two group members,
both hatha yoga teachers at the Lawson YMCA on Chicago
Avenue, arrange meeting space for the group at the "Y".
In September, the
Chicago Meditation Group hosts an SRF Center Tour with
Brother Mokshananda and Brahmachari Austin.
1976
The Chicago Meditation Group hosts an
SRF Center Tour with Brother Mokshananda and Brahmachari
Dennis.
1977
The Chicago Meditation Group hosts a
Weekend Retreat in May with Brother Turiyananda and
Brahmachari Dale. In October, the group hosts an SRF Center
Tour with Brother Achalananda and Brahmachari Eckart.
Late 1970s
The Chicago Meditation
Group moves to a member's home: a basement apartment in Chicago's Beverly
neighborhood. In May 1979,
the Chicago Meditation Group hosts an SRF Center Tour with
Brother Mokshananda and Brahmachari Gary.
1980-1985
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts the following SRF events: June 1980 - Weekend
Retreat with Brother Sadananda and Brahmachari Austin; May
1981 - Center Tour with Brother Achalananda and Brahmachari
Simon; June 1983 - Weekend Retreat with Brother Sadananda
and Brahmachari Jay; May 1985 - Center Tour with Brother
Santoshananda and Brahmachari Shawn.
Mid 1980s
The Chicago Meditation
Group moves to a member's apartment in suburban Oak Park,
Illinois on Taylor Street north of Chicago Avenue. As the
group's membership grows, it becomes necessary to rent the
upper level apartment of the two story building for its
services.
1988-1991
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts the following SRF events: September 1988 -
Center Tour with Brother Mitrananda and Brahmachari Bradley;
May 1989 - Weekend Retreat with Brother Devananda and
Brahmachari Dean; March 1990 - Center Tour with Brother
Devananda and Brahmachari Keith; June 1991 - Center Tour
with Brother Ramananda and Brahmachari Gregory.
1993
In April, the Chicago
Meditation Group hosts an SRF Center Tour with Brother
Achalananda and Brahamachari Keith. In August, the City of
Chicago hosts the World's Parliament of Religions. The event
is attended by Brothers Anandamoy, Achalananda, Mitrananda
and Paramananda, and Brahmacharis Peter and Steven.
1995
The Chicago Meditation Group hosts an
SRF Center Tour with Brother Devananda and Brahmachari
Keith.
1996
The Chicago Meditation
Group moves to a two-story office
building in Hillside, Illinois. This location contains a
chapel, bookroom, and children's Sunday school room.
1997
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts an SRF Center Tour in November at the Congress
Hotel in downtown Chicago, with Brother Satyananda and
Brahmachari Martin.
2000
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts an SRF Center Tour at the Holiday Inn in
Hillside, Illinois with Brother Anilananda and Brahmachari
Robin.
2004
The Chicago Meditation
Group hosts an SRF Center Tour in September at Illinois
State Beach Resort in Zion, Illinois with Brother Mitrananda
and Brahmachari Terry.
2007
After 11 years at our Hillside
location, the group relocates on July 28 to a two story
office building in nearby Westchester, Illinois. The address
is 10031 West Roosevelt Road, Suite 220.
In September, the Chicago Meditation Group hosts an SRF Member
Support Visit with Brother Devananda and Brahmachari
Augusto.
