Our Journey Through the Years
From a small gathering in a devotee’s home in the 1970s to our current chapel on West Henry Avenue, the Tampa Bay Meditation Group’s story is one of devotion, fellowship, and dedicated volunteers creating a spiritual home through every season of change.
The Beginning in Dolly Lutz’s Home
A small gathering in Largo became the foundation of today’s Tampa Bay Meditation Group.
The Clearwater Meditation Group began in the 1970s in the Largo mobile home of Dorothy “Dolly” Lutz. Then in her eighties, Dolly welcomed devotees and filled nearly every role the young group needed—coordinator, treasurer, secretary, chant player, and service reader. Her dedication created a warm spiritual home for the earliest gatherings.
As fellowship grew, members met for meditation, readings, chanting, and shared spiritual support. By 1984, health concerns led Dolly to ask that the group relocate, beginning its transition from Clearwater toward Tampa and opening the next chapter of its history.
Dorothy “Dolly” Lutz
1970s
Group established in Dolly Lutz’s Largo home.
Dolly’s service
Coordinator, treasurer, secretary, chant player, and reader.
1984
Dolly’s request to relocate opened the group’s next Tampa chapter.
Growing in Fellowship
From a South Tampa living room, the group developed regular services, retreats, and a growing circle of devotees.
In 1984, health concerns led Dorothy “Dolly” Lutz to ask that the Clearwater Meditation Group relocate. The group moved to the South Tampa home of Carlene and Jordan Walker, about three blocks east of a later meeting location. Its name first became the Clearwater/Tampa Meditation Group and, roughly six months later, the Tampa Meditation Group.
Attendance grew from three to five devotees to approximately 10–15, with larger gatherings for special services and occasional visits from Brother Vratananda. Members added Thursday evening lesson study and meditation, kirtans, long meditations, and fellowship socials.
Retreats planned with the Orlando Meditation Circle strengthened ties beyond Tampa and helped the small community mature.
The growth depended on steady volunteer service. Carlene and Jordan opened their home week after week, while members shared responsibility for readings, music, hospitality, and retreat planning. The informal setting kept fellowship personal even as participation expanded.
By 1991, the group again needed more room. Jordan Walker began planning a new house with a space designed specifically for the group: a sanctuary, social room, bookstore, sitting room with a lending library, and foyer. That vision prepared the way for the chapel-building chapter that followed.
Thatcher Avenue House
Thatcher House Altar (Easter 1984)
1984
Moved to Carlene and Jordan Walker’s South Tampa home.
Carlene Walker
10–15 devotees
Attendance grew through regular services, socials, and retreats.
1991
Plans began for a purpose-designed home chapel.
Jordan Walker
Building a Chapel Together
Volunteers built a purpose-designed chapel that supported expanded service, outreach, and regional fellowship.
From 1991 to 1993, Jordan Walker designed and built a new house with a chapel created specifically for the growing group. The plan included a sanctuary, social room, bookstore, sitting room with a lending library, and foyer. Jordan did most of the construction himself, with devotees Jack Moore and Todd Crosby lending a hand.
While construction continued, Sunday services met next door at the home of Joy Bass. Thursday evening services were held at the home of Carlene Walker’s mother, devotee Patricia Mahan. These temporary arrangements depended on generous hosts and kept the weekly rhythm intact.
In 1993, TMG moved into the completed Walker home on Himes Avenue. The upstairs chapel and adjoining rooms gave the group its first purpose-designed spiritual home. The new setting supported broader service: during 1994–95. The Library Project placed donated SRF books in 18 Tampa Bay–area libraries.
In 1997, TMG and the Orlando Meditation Circle hosted a monastic-led Regional Retreat attended by 120 devotees. Continued growth eventually outpaced the house chapel, and the group used temporary locations—including a women’s club and a strip mall—while searching for its next long-term home.
Walker House on Himes with Upstairs Chapel
Walker House Chapel Altar
1993
Purpose-designed chapel opened in the Walker home on Himes Avenue.
1994–95
SRF books donated to 18 Tampa Bay–area libraries.
1997
120 devotees attended a monastic-led Regional Retreat.
Libby and Stacy Dickinson with Soraya Rodriguez
Br. Naradananda, Libby Dickinson, Karen Thompson
The Manhattan Avenue Years
A long-term chapel at Manhattan Plaza supported deeper practice, wider outreach, and a growing volunteer community.
After an extended search, TMG found a chapel in the Manhattan Plaza strip mall in 1999 and made the space its own. Attendance continued to grow, along with one-day retreats at the Avashia family home in Winter Haven, self-led retreats at the Franciscan Center, and twice-monthly fellowship socials. In October 2004, the group established a building fund with the hope of one day acquiring a free-standing temple.
In 2007, twice-monthly long Saturday meditations were added. The following year they became guided and included Kriya practice. Monastic-led Regional Retreats took place at the Franciscan Center in 2007 and the Bethany Center in March 2010. At the 2010 retreat, a newly formed kirtan group made its debut and soon became a regular part of services.
Communication and outreach also expanded. In 2010, the email list and TMG’s listing on the SRF website were enlarged to include contact information, directions, and a photograph. Monthly guided meditations alternating between three and five hours became standard. TMG’s pioneering five-hour format was highlighted at the 2010 Lake Shrine Representatives Conference. India Night returned in September, and a three-day Center Department visit in November prepared additional service readers and a harmonium player.
The era closed with major change. Invited in January 2011 to host a February 2012 Lecture Tour and Tampa’s first Kriya Yoga Initiation, the group lost its Manhattan lease in July 2011. Services moved briefly to Christ the King Catholic Church and then the Howard Johnson conference room while a relocation committee searched. In August the name became Tampa Bay Meditation Group (TBMG); a website and logo followed in October.
Manhattan Avenue Chapel
Pat Mahan
2004
Building fund established for a future free-standing temple.
2010
Five-hour guided meditations highlighted at an SRF representatives conference.
2011
The name Tampa Bay Meditation Group, website, and logo were adopted.
Fellowship at the Manhattan Avenue Chapel
The Crown Building Chapter
A warehouse-style space became a lasting chapel through persistence, volunteer work, and a landmark public lecture.
The search for a more permanent home ended in November 2011, when TBMG leased a ground-floor space in the Crown Building. The former warehouse had its own rear entrance and required gradual remodeling. Work was interrupted more than once by flooding from a broken overhead pipe; the carpet ultimately had to be replaced twice. Even so, TBMG held its first service and Christmas social there in December 2011 while the floors were still bare concrete.
The long-planned Lecture Tour followed in February 2012. Despite another flood the day before, 211 people attended the Friday public lecture and approximately 20 new students received Kriya Yoga initiation. The event became one of the largest milestones in the group’s history and introduced many people to the chapel and SRF teachings.
Volunteers continued improving the space throughout 2012. New walls created a soundproof foyer, kitchen, and bookroom, and a sound system was installed. An exterior sign followed in 2013. The finished chapel at 3819 Henderson Boulevard supported services, meditations, socials, and fellowship for the remainder of the decade.
In 2020, in-person services closed because of the pandemic. TBMG decided not to renew the chapel lease, ending the ground-floor Crown Building chapter and beginning another period without a permanent meeting place.
Chapel at 3819 Henderson
November 2011
TBMG found a permanent chapel in the Crown Building.
February 2012
211 attended the public lecture; approximately 20 received Kriya initiation.
2020
Pandemic closure ended the ground-floor chapel lease.
Social at 3819 Henderson Chapel
Crown Building Third Floor
TBMG reopened in the Crown Building with a larger space and renewed enthusium, hosting two separate monastic visits.
In mid-2022, TBMG intensified its search for a new meeting place. A suitable third-floor office suite was found in the Crown Building, returning the group to the same building where services had previously been held. The suite included a large foyer, bookroom, social hall, and kitchen, with restrooms located outside the suite. A two-year lease was signed in October 2022.
The reopening quickly became a community effort. In November 2022, TBMG hosted a monastic visit, and volunteers moved in, arranged the rooms, and decorated the chapel just in time. The new setting restored a shared place for meditation, services, fellowship, and volunteer work after the pandemic interruption.
In July 2023, TBMG was one of only a small number of cities worldwide to receive a monastic visit during SRF Convocation week. Sister Ranjana and Brahmacharini Laura visited Tampa, creating another memorable period of spiritual fellowship for the group.
At the end of the two year lease, an opportunity to purchase a permanent chapel property became available, and the group meditated and prayed for guidance on how to proceed.
Crown Building 3rd Floor Chapel
October 2022
A two-year lease returned TBMG to the Crown Building.
October 2022
TBMG hosted a 3 day Monastic visit in our brand new space
July 2023
Sister Ranjana and Brahmacharini Laura visited during Convocation week.
October 2022 Monastic Visit
Kirtan Participation
Convocation Monastic Visit 2023
Sister Ranjana and Brahmacharini Laura, July 2023
Our New Chapel
TBMG purchased and refurbished a 1 acre property including a Chapel and Fellowship Hall that had been a "church of all religions" for more than 100 years.
In mid 2024 as the lease on the Crown Building was about to expire, Dr. Harshad Patel became aware of a property for sale in Tampa. The location on 2517 West Henry Avenue included a one acre lot with plenty of parking, a concrete block chapel, and a social hall that had been in use as a "church of all religions": for over 100 years. The location had been abandoned for several years and was badly in need of restoration.
TBMG pulled together and under the leadership and generosity of Dr. Jay Avashia, Dr. Harshad Patel, Dr. Jagdish Patil and Dr. Usha Patil, with real estate expertise and guidance from Thomas Citrin, were able to put together a proposal for purchase. The proposal was approved by TBMG membership and SRF Mother Center, and renovations began taking place as soon as the sale was complete. Services began in the new location late in 2024.
In April of 2025, Brother Prafullananda and Br. Bhaskarananda visited to dedicate the new chapel, with over 75 attendees in the new chapel. The new space also hosted a monastic visit during convocation of 2025 as well.
The space is in a central location in Tampa and promises to be a gateway for SRF growth in the Tampa Bay area for years to come. The first TBMG Sunday School class started in 2026 with current classes once per month.
Monastic visit for dedication of the new chapel in April 2025
June 2025 SRF Convocation Monastic Visit at the new chapel
Present Chapel at 2517 West Henry Avenue
Today
TBMG’s present chapel is at 2517 West Henry Avenue.
TBMG Members at the West Henry Avenue Chapel
Inside the West Henry Avenue Chapel
TBMG Sunday School
Fellowship Hall hosts our socials and gatherings