Dear Dharma Friends,
As we reflect on the past year, we express deep gratitude for your steadfast support of the Zen Studies Society. Our monumental $1.5 million Dai Bosatsu Zendo Monastery Restoration campaign surpassed the halfway point. Your contributions enabled vital upgrades to reduce our energy expenditures and environmental footprint. Despite the concurrent capital campaign, our general fund donations remained strong, and we achieved a remarkable 34% surge in unrestricted revenue. This growth was largely attributable to increased rental income from the newly renovated Beecher House and earnings from our three-year-old Endowment Fund.
Beyond financial success, 2023 marked the highest in-person attendance in the last five years, driven by heightened energy at New York Zendo. We welcomed over 5,000 visitors across 500+ events at our two temples. The year also brought significant Dharma transitions, honoring our former abbot as Abbess Emerita, welcoming the new abbot, and launching a Dharma teacher training program with nine Junior Dharma Teachers.
Explore our 2023 Annual Report for insights from our new abbot, updates on the Monastery Restoration campaign, and details on pivotal transitions. The report offers an overview of our programming, activities, and financial health, and recognizes major donors and supporters who made it all possible.
Thank you for being a valued member of our sangha. May we continue to practice together and make our shared vision of living with insight and compassion a reality.
With a deep bow of gratitude,
Jifu Devyani Sadh
President of the Board and Chair, Development and Communications