Star Was Vans out for a walk. — N.M-Y. '15
After arriving at the Abode of the Message in New Lebanon, New York, early this morning, I decided to take a walk around the property in the afternoon to take pictures of the old Shaker buildings before teaching later at the Season of the Rose Summer School for the Sufi Order.
The Meditation Hall where every Sunday morning the Abode offers a Universal Worship service honoring all the major religions. — N.M-Y. '15
The Abode is a self-sustaining residential community and spiritual center oriented around the teachings of the Indian Sufi master, Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927), dedicated to promoting harmony between all religions.
The Abode is situated on 250 acres originally belonging to the Mt. Lebanon Shaker South Family. Shortly after its establishment in 1975, I’m told, the Abode was visited by three sisters from the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village. The Shakers, they said, had a prophecy that they would die out, but that another group would take over their work of putting “hands to work and hearts to God” on Mt. Lebanon.
The Razzaq ('provider') building which contains the library, dining hall, and guest rooms. — N.M-Y. '15
After looking at the Shaker buildings, I walked down into the Abode gardens just across the street and took pictures of the roses and found little quotes from Hazrat Inayat Khan on handmade wood signs in the beds.
The Abode of the Message gardens. — N.M-Y. '15
A quote from Hazrat Inayat Khan's Nature Meditations in the garden of the Abode. — N.M-Y. '15
An appropriate reminder of the Season of the Rose Summer School. — N.M-Y. '15
A quote from Hazrat Inayat Khan's Philosophy, Psychology, and Mysticism in the garden of the Abode. — N.M-Y. '15
Coming back up the driveway, I noticed this license plate. Even the cars are Sufi here.
“Toward the One”. — N.M-Y. '15