Abode of the Message Expands Its Focus As A Retreat Center And Program Host
Once a refuge for Sufis, this former New Lebanon comnune is now a center for spiritual learning.
Photos courtesy the Abode
Hidden in the rolling landscape of New Lebanon, New York, The Abode of the Message was once just a quiet comune for followers of Universal Sufism. Now the beautiful grounds and facilities also serve as a spiritual retreat and community center offering programs grounded in the principles of the peaceful ideology. Since its establishment in 1975, the Abode has provided a refuge for spiritual seekers, offering a space for introspection, meditation, and connections.
The creation of the Abode was inspired by Vilayat Inayat Khan, an Indian Sufi master who introduced Sufism to the Western world in the early 20th century. His vision of unity among religious traditions aimed to promote harmony and peace across different faiths, according to The Abode’s mission statment.
“Pir Vilayat (Khan’s son) spoke often about the need for a rural community to gather his followers together,” writes Puran Khan Bair, cofounder of Abode. “He urged us to find land where we could do our own farming and survive the coming ecological crisis.”
It is said Vilayat saw visions of the world heating up and eventually burning in flames, well before the idea of global warming was established. He also founded the Omega Institute at The Abode in the 1980s, now the popular wellness retreat center in Rhinebeck, New York.
The 350-acre site of the Abode has a spiritual legacy that long predates the Sufi’s arival. The property was originally developed as the Mount Lebanon Shaker Village in the 19th century. (Before that, it was the ancestral homelands of the Mohican people.) The property retains much of its historical Shaker charm. The wooden structures, barns, and expansive fields create an atmosphere conducive to contemplation. The Shakers, known for their commitment to simplicity and communal living, make the compound a fitting backdrop for a contemporary spiritual community.
Over the years, the Abode has adapted its mission to be able to generate revenue and survive. Now a center for workshops, retreats, and educational programs, the facility invites guests from various spiritual backgrounds. These initiatives are rooted in Sufi teachings, yet they welcome participants interested in exploring meditation, music, prayer, and the sacred arts, emphasizing personal growth and inner peace.
Abode Executive Director Kimberly Taj Martel says as the Abode evolves into a retreat center and lodging facility, recently completing renovations and restoration in keeping with Shaker esthetic, they remain dedicated to their spiritual mission and giving guests space to meditate and leave the busy world for a space of quiet and contemplation.
“Everyone has a different experience of spirituality,” Martel says. “This is a space where people can take time to bring context and contemplation to their lives. As the world speeds up having time for stillness can be really beneficial."
With its recent updates, The Abode can now sleep up to 70 guests. Martel says recent music events have drawn crowds and their lodging is often filled with groups coming for events at the Abode as well as others in the surrounding area.
Each week the Abode hosts a Universal worship service on Sundays, Tai Chi on Mondays, and other programs. Once a month the Abode also hosts a Spice Caravan Community Dinner, serving Indian cuisine, which is open to all ($20).
Special classes and community events take place at the Abode each month. On October 5 and 6, there will be lectures and a workshop, “Reading Nature as a Sacred Text,” with Ryan Shea. “If nature is meaningful, if it is like a text, then how might we learn to read it, to come to terms with oaks, ferns, milkweed, and moss?,” the event’s description reads. On October 20, Joel Stanley will teach “Alchemy: a 1-Day 5Rhythms Waves Workshop." Curious? Description is on the website.
Event prices vary, with overnight rooms starting at $129. Healthy food is also available in the Abode’s dining hall, cooked on site using locally sourced ingredients, including from the Abode’s farm on property.
Another regular event is The Dances of Universal Peace every third Sunday of the month. As taught at the Abode of the Message, the dances are intended to foster community, connection, and healing through shared experiences of music, movement, and prayer. The dances draw on the spiritual traditions of the world, blending sacred phrases, live music, and movement into an experience that promotes unity and deepens participants' sense of connection to themselves and each other.
In addition to its spiritual mission, the Abode emphasizes ecological sustainability and communal living. The land is actively used for organic farming, with a strong focus on renewable energy and preserving the area's natural beauty. Both residents and visitors participate in the stewardship of the property.
Abode Farm is now run by Sarah Steadman, who was raised on the property. She grew up with the Abode farm in her life, learning and being inspired by its former farmer Sarah Westwind. While studying ethnography at Hampshire College, she learned the farm was closing. At just 19 she committed to running the farm herself while simultaneously finishing her degree. Now Steadman has reestablished the farm to feed residents and visitors. She also partners with other local small scale farms to run a diverse CSA program.
When creating the Abode, the founders prioritized agricultural self sustainability so “It was very important to me to keep the legacy going,” Steadman says. She also leads workshops for adults as well as children from the nearby Darrow School.
For those in the market for a deeper connection to themselves, others, and beyond, the Abode of the Message offers a unique and nurturing environment. As it approaches its sixth decade in New Lebanon, the Abode of the Message remains a local window into Sufi teachings and what the Abode believes is the restorative power of nature.
