25th Anniversary
"Everything in the future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now."
- Paramahansa Yogananda
A Letter from Isha Das, Spiritual Director of The Assisi Institute
Dear Friends,
Peace! I pray this letter finds you well, held in grace, and surrounded by God’s quiet goodness. I am writing from the midst of a weekend retreat I am blessed to be sharing with forty Franciscan nuns. The spirit of Francis and Clare shines so tenderly through these beautiful souls. They embody the Franciscan spirit, “We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.”
Here at The Assisi Institute, we, too, seek to live the spirit of Francis, while also serving the sacred mission of Paramahansa Yogananda:
“To reestablish God in the temples of souls, and to revive the original teachings of God-communion as given by Christ and Krishna is why I was sent to the West by Mahavatar Babaji. The work of these two fully illumined Masters is to inspire the nations to forsake war, racial hatred, religious sectarianism, and the boomerang evils of materialism.”
Over the last 25 years, we have nurtured our community, built our individual and collective silence, and even become owners of our building. Now, it is time to reach out in service to the larger community. The call before us is great—at times even humbling in its magnitude. This fall, a group of committed members have begun to lay the groundwork for a robust ministry of providing food for those on the margins of society, fulfilling Lahiri Mahasaya’s injunction to “feed people.” Our work as a spiritual community has scarcely just begun, yet I deeply feel that God and the gurus are with us, giving us all that we need, moment by moment, to fulfill the work we have been entrusted to do.
In this spirit, I am asking you to prayerfully consider donating to our newly-established Endowment Fund. An endowment fund will serve the long-term viability of our mission and provide income for our growing needs. The principal of an endowment fund is kept intact, and only a portion of the investment earnings is spent each year while the rest stays invested to preserve or grow the fund.
Given that this is the 25th anniversary of The Assisi Institute, I am asking that you consider making your donation in any denomination of 25. All donations are tax deductible. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you in advance for your generosity, support, and light.
In love,
Isha Das
WHO WE ARE
The Assisi Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals who seek a deeper relationship with God.
Through the harmonious integration of Kriya Yoga and mystical Christianity, we nurture a sacred community of meditation, contemplative inquiry, and compassionate living.
Kriya Yoga is not a religion; it is a spiritual path that brings us home to our own souls and to God and cultivates harmony in the world.
Because Kriya Yoga is easily integrated into other faith traditions, practitioners include people of all spiritual backgrounds or of none.
The work of Christ and Babaji is to inspire the nations to forsake wars, race hatreds, religious sectarianism, and the boomerang evils of materialism.
TODAY
The Assisi Institute started in 2001 with four people meditating together in a rented room. Since then, we have grown our local congregation to more than a hundred, with many thousands throughout the world, and more than a hundred thousand subscribers to our digital content.
The Assisi Institute continues to grow, offering weekly services, classes and special events, a daily yoga program, and multiple annual retreats with overnight accommodations.
Thanks to the generous support of donors, this year The Assisi Institute reached an important milestone by satisfying the mortgage on its building.
TOMORROW
The Assisi Institute is now in a period of expansion as more people seek the peace that God provides. Increasing access to these spiritual teachings is desperately needed in today’s challenging world.
Our continued growth will also include establishing a mobile food pantry and other outreach to our neighbors in need, as well as afterschool programs and young adult programs.
We invite you to join us in these efforts to broaden our service to the community. In order to provide a strong and lasting foundation for the future, we are establishing an endowment for The Assisi Institute to secure growth in perpetuity, with an initial target of $4M.
HOW TO GIVE
In the parable of the Widow’s Mite, Jesus taught us that the spirit of giving, rather than the size of the gift, is what matters most.
Tax-deductible donations in any amount can be made via the following options:
Check: Mail or drop off your check at The Assisi Institute 1400 Winton Rd N, Rochester, NY 14609
Wire transfer: Email John Marciante (johnmarciante@icloud.com) for detailed instructions
Online: Use this link or the QR code below.
Many companies will double or even triple charitable contributions made by their employees, retirees and spouses/partners through a matching gift program. Check with your employer!
How an Endowment Works
The purpose of an endowment is to provide income without depleting funds. Money kept in an endowment is carefully invested and managed. In a typical scenario, only 4% of the funds are withdrawn on an annual basis. Given conservative annual rates of 3% for inflation and 7% for investment income, this means that the principle of the fund will never be depleted and will at minimum grow with inflation.
Endowments are more than just financial instruments. They are legacies, living expressions of care, commitment, and belief in a better future. They ensure that the work we are passionate about today continues to serve our communities for generations to come.