Abode and it’s Past
"The Abode was founded in 1975 by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, then head of the Sufi Order (now known as the Inayatiyya), as a living experiment a community devoted to embodying the “Message” of his father, Hazrat Inayat Khan, the first Sufi teacher to bring the teachings of universal Sufism to the West. The vision was simple yet profound: to create a place where spiritual ideals could take root in daily life, where people could live, work, and grow together in the spirit of love, harmony, and beauty.
Long before the Sufis arrived, this land held many other stories. For centuries, it was cared for by the region’s first inhabitants, Native Americans, whose sacred sites still whisper their presence in the surrounding hills and streams. In the 19th century, the Shakers cultivated these same fields, building simple, enduring structures that reflected their devotion to community, craftsmanship, and faith. Later, the land became home to a youth summer camp, another chapter of joyful gathering and shared purpose before becoming the home of the Abode community.
Set on 350 acres of rolling meadows, forested hills, and historic Shaker buildings, the Abode continues to serve as a sanctuary for spiritual exploration and community life in harmony with nature. Its mission has always been to offer a refuge for seekers of all traditions a place where inner and outer life meet, and where the sacred can be experienced in the everyday.
In its early years, the Abode thrived as a vibrant intentional community. By 1985, it was home to around 60 adults and 25 children, sustaining itself through creativity and shared labor. The residents operated a bakery, a Volkswagen repair shop, a children’s school (the Mountain Road School), and an organic farm that nourished both body and spirit. The hum of daily life from meditation bells in the morning to laughter echoing through the old Shaker barns was infused with purpose and prayer.
Today, the Abode lives on as a retreat and spiritual center with a smaller but deeply dedicated residential community. Each year, it welcomes teachers, groups, and guests from many spiritual paths, hosting workshops, retreats, and gatherings that celebrate unity, dialogue, and the sacredness of life. The land remains a place of peace and pilgrimage a living bridge between the wisdom of the past and the unfolding spirit of the present."
Explore our photo gallery to journey through time, from the Abode’s earliest days in 1975 to the present
Learn about the Abode Gardens, the caretakers and the history.
Learn about the Abode Farm and It’s history, and sign up for it’s CSA!
About the Shakers
The Shakers, officially called the The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, originally formed in Manchester England in 1747. A small Protestant group branching off from the Society of Friends (or the Quakers), they became known as the Shakers because of the singing and dancing commonly found in their services.
The Shakers were soon joined by a young woman of great faith, Anne Lee. Witnessing Anne Lee to be extraordinarily touched by God, the Shakers gave her the title Mother Anne Lee, claiming her as the ‘first spiritual mother in Christ.’
A Christian minority, the Shakers were often criticized, misunderstood and persecuted in their native country. Eventually Mother Anne was inspired to establish the Shaker base in America, and they officially arrived in New York State in 1774 settling in Watervliet, a small area near Albany.
The Shakers saw enormous growth after the American Revolution, spreading to 9 Shaker communities across New York and New England and eventually 19 locations from the east coast to Indianna. At their peak in the mid 19th century, they had successfully grown their numbers to an estimated 6,000.
The Shakers were trailblazers, known for their unique views of racial and gender equality, pacifism and a lifestyle of simplicity. They believed that their devotion to their work was a direct reflection of their devotion to God, and their well-made and distinct aesthetic of craftsmanship was sought after throughout neighboring communities in the US. They have had a lasting contribution to American society in many areas including art, design, lifestyle, medicine and architecture.
Mt. Lebanon was among the first Shaker settlements in the US and was instrumental in the early days of establishing the Shakers there. At the time of the Shakers peak in the mid 19th century, the Mt. Lebanon Shaker Village spanned over 6,000 acres with as many as 600 people working in the community in hundreds of buildings. Mt. Lebanon was declared a national historic landmark in 1965.
Learn about the Chatham, NY, Shaker Museum and it’s events
Learn more about Sabbathday Lake, the only living Shaker community left, in Maine.
Learn more about the Shaker Museum and it’s events in Enfield, NH.