A Home for the Human Spirit

The Abode’s mission is to provide a sanctuary for spiritual exploration and community, in harmony with nature.

Grounded in nature. Uplifted by community. Alive with creativity.

Set on over 300 acres of historic Shaker and Stockbridge-Munsee (Band of the Mohican Indians) land, the Abode provides a sanctuary for spiritual exploration and community, rooted in harmony with nature. We serve as a living home for the Message of Love, Harmony, and Beauty and its practices, while welcoming diverse teachers, groups, and seekers. Through retreats, programs, and spiritual dialogue, we cultivate renewal, connection, and the shared pursuit of wisdom.

An elderly man with a white beard and hair, dressed in a brown robe, walking through a lush green forest.

Established in 1975 by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, the Abode of the Message is a spiritual retreat center located in New Lebanon, New York. In the historic Mount Lebanon Shaker Village with a sacred Mountain Camp Retreat Center, the Abode is rooted in the teachings of Universal Sufism. The property, originally developed as the South Family of the Mount Lebanon Shaker Village in the 19th century, was purchased by a group of spiritual pioneers who restored the Shaker buildings to create a center for spiritual study. Their vision was to collectively embody spiritual awakening through mutual commitment to practicing Sufi teachings and devotion to the ideals of the Message. Over the years, the Abode has hosted diverse spiritual teachers and programs, fostering interfaith dialogue and providing a space for reflection and renewal.

A Living Example of the Message

This land has been blessed across generations, first by the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Indians, then by the Shakers, and later by the Sufi teachings of Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan. Today, we continue this lineage by practicing presence with nature and nurturing creativity within ourselves and our community. Through programming centered on nature, health, spirituality, and harmony, we carry forward the Message: to live with Love, Harmony, and Beauty every day.

The Abode is a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code.

A woman with brown hair wearing a blue headscarf and white dress is smiling, standing outdoors with a man with long brown hair in a yellow shirt. They are smiling at each other in a grassy area.

Group of women socializing outdoors under a white canopy in a sunny backyard, with lush green trees in the background, wooden tables, and colorful flowers as decorations.