What we’re about
### PAUSE. BREATHE. BE LOVE.
The Buddhist Faith Fellowship (BFF) is one of Connecticut’s most enduring meditation and Buddhist communities, offering accessible, heart-centered teachings for modern life. Rooted in the Buddhist path of wisdom and compassion, BFF welcomes people of all backgrounds—no prior experience or Buddhist affiliation required.
We offer Meditation & Talk Sundays overlooking a serene Zen garden, in-person and online courses such as Meditation Made Easy and Buddhism 101, silent retreats, sound bathing and healing experiences, Buddhist-style kirtans, Zen koan workshops, days of mindfulness, spiritual field trips, and seasonal mindful hiking and biking. Guided by our experienced teacher, G. R. Lewis, BFF supports intellectual understanding, contemplative practice, and embodied experience within a warm, inclusive community.
Meditation is a human practice—open to all truth seekers.
Visit our main web site for calendar of event and plenty of information on Buddhist philosophy and practice. Take a look at our web site at http://bffct.org/bff
Upcoming events
14
Meditation and Talk Sunday Meeting
Wesleyan University Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 345 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT, USJoin us on Sunday mornings for a warm, accessible, and supportive community gathering rooted in mindfulness, compassion, and everyday Buddhist wisdom. These meetings offer a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds—newcomers and long-time practitioners alike—to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters.
Note: Meetup RSVPs don’t reflect our full attendance. We usually have at least 12 people each Sunday, including regulars who do not RSVP online.
Each session includes:
• Quiet Sitting Meditation
A simple, relaxed period of mindful breathing and calm awareness to settle body and mind.
• Voice Meditation
A gentle, mindful vocal practice that helps open the heart, steady attention, and deepen presence.
• Dharma Talk and Practical Teaching
Dharma Teacher G.R. Lewis, with over 35 years of meditation experience, offers a short teaching on Buddhist practice, wisdom, and mindful living. Each week explores a new theme—ranging from compassion to resilience to the art of inner freedom—so there is always something fresh to learn and reflect on.
• Discussion, Q&A, and Shared Reflection
Participants are invited to ask questions, share insights, and explore how to bring mindfulness and compassion into daily life. This communal reflection helps deepen understanding and connection.
Our gathering is designed to be both practical and universal—you do not need to identify as Buddhist to participate. Everyone is welcome.
• Parking: Free street parking on Washington Terrace but there is also parking on Mt. Vernon Street which is the side street, next to the center.
• Meeting Rules: In order to maintain a harmonious and respectful environment, practice kind speech, be courteous, and abstain from talking about current politics or display or wear political or offensive symbols or imagery. Those unable to follow these rules will be asked to promptly leave.
• Suggested Donation: $10–$20 (cash, check, PayPal or Vemno)
Your support helps sustain the Fellowship and its mission of offering inclusive, heart-centered practice opportunities. Checks are payable to BFF of CT. Thank you in advance for your generous support.
• What to Expect? To learn more about our Meditation & Talk Meetings, visit our FAQ: Sunday Meetings web page HERE.
###8 attendees
Buddhism 101 Online Course: The Basics '26
·OnlineOnlineOpen Enrollment ends on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Make 2026 the year you discover the path to inner clarity, compassion, and peace. The Buddhism 101 Course: Module 1 – The Basics is our most popular course since its introduction in 2004. This online course explores two engaging and accessible books that provide a comprehensive non-sectarian overview of Buddhism, – covering Theravada and Mahayana schools – the life of the historical Buddha, as well as his foundational teachings—the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the Six Paramitas, karma, empitiness, rebirth and the afterlife, meditation, the Five Ethical Precepts, rituals and festivals, and so much more.
More than just an intellectual overview, this course emphasizes bringing the Buddha’s teachings into everyday life. Students will learn how to cultivate mindfulness, practice basic meditation, and see the world through a fresh, compassionate lens. Together we’ll explore how Buddhist principles can transform how we relate to stress, relationships, work, and the search for meaning—making ancient wisdom practical for modern living.
This 2-month, 4-sessions comprehensive course is known for its insightful class discussions and plenty of opportunities to learn and practice the necessary spiritual tools to help you awaken your innate Buddha nature and discover your life’s purpose.
Course Dates: Jan 25 & Feb 8, Feb. 22 & Mar 8.
Contribution: $235.
Limited enrollment. Sign up early to have the best chance of getting a place at the course and have the time to order and receive the books, and complete the 1st class assignment.
Note: Meetup RSVPs don’t reflect our full attendance. For example, we usually have at least 12 people each Sunday, including regulars who do not RSVP online.
Time, Frequency & Place: It will meet 4x, on Sundays for two months. Online classes will be approx. 90 minutes -2.5 hours each for 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST (USA & Canada) or (GMT-5). See dates above. The unique Zoom link will be sent to registered students.
To learn more about Buddhism 101 and to enroll asap, Visit our web site, HERE.12 attendees
Yale Art Gallery Buddhist Art Field Trip
Yale Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, USJoin us on Saturday, January 31, 2026, for an inspiring open field trip to the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut. Together, we’ll explore the museum’s world-renowned Asian and Buddhist art collections, along with exquisite Byzantine and Islamic religious works. We’ll also visit other galleries featuring masterpieces such as John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 and Vincent van Gogh’s Le Café de Nuit—and much more!
After our group visit, participants are welcome to continue exploring the museum or join us for New Haven–style brick oven pizza at Bar Pizzeria, just a few blocks away. It’s the perfect way to relax, share reflections, and enjoy fellowship together.
Where: Yale University Art Gallery & Bar Pizzeria
Date: Saturday, Januaery 31, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. – approximately 2:00 p.m.
How to find us: Look for Glenn, the guy in the lobby wearing Tibetan prayer flags around his shoulders.
Important: Visit this web page 2 hours prior in case of weather cancellations.
Locations:
-Yale University Art Gallery – 111 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT
-Bar Pizzeria – 254 Crown Street, New Haven, CT
Museum Admission: Free of charge
Pizza, Drinks & Tip: We’ll be sharing the cost, so please bring cash (small bills: $20s, $10s, $5s, and $1s). Contribution
Donation: This is a free of charge field trip but if you would like to help us continue our work, donations are warmly welcomed. Thank you for supporting our mission! To donate, visit HERE.
Parking: Limited metered street parking may be available; Chapel–York Garage is nearby as an alternative.
To learn more about our upcming activities, meetings, courses, and retreats, visit our web site HERE.21 attendeesMeditation and Talk Sunday Meeting
Wesleyan University Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 345 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT, USJoin us on Sunday mornings for a warm, accessible, and supportive community gathering rooted in mindfulness, compassion, and everyday Buddhist wisdom. These meetings offer a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds—newcomers and long-time practitioners alike—to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters.
Note: Meetup RSVPs don’t reflect our full attendance. We usually have at least 12 people each Sunday, including regulars who do not RSVP online.
Each session includes:
• Quiet Sitting Meditation
A simple, relaxed period of mindful breathing and calm awareness to settle body and mind.
• Voice Meditation
A gentle, mindful vocal practice that helps open the heart, steady attention, and deepen presence.
• Dharma Talk and Practical Teaching
Dharma Teacher G.R. Lewis, with over 35 years of meditation experience, offers a short teaching on Buddhist practice, wisdom, and mindful living. Each week explores a new theme—ranging from compassion to resilience to the art of inner freedom—so there is always something fresh to learn and reflect on.
• Discussion, Q&A, and Shared Reflection
Participants are invited to ask questions, share insights, and explore how to bring mindfulness and compassion into daily life. This communal reflection helps deepen understanding and connection.
Our gathering is designed to be both practical and universal—you do not need to identify as Buddhist to participate. Everyone is welcome.
• Parking: Free street parking on Washington Terrace but there is also parking on Mt. Vernon Street which is the side street, next to the center.
• Meeting Rules: In order to maintain a harmonious and respectful environment, practice kind speech, be courteous, and abstain from talking about current politics or display or wear political or offensive symbols or imagery. Those unable to follow these rules will be asked to promptly leave.
• Suggested Donation: $10–$20 (cash, check, PayPal or Vemno)
Your support helps sustain the Fellowship and its mission of offering inclusive, heart-centered practice opportunities. Checks are payable to BFF of CT. Thank you in advance for your generous support.
• What to Expect? To learn more about our Meditation & Talk Meetings, visit our FAQ: Sunday Meetings web page HERE.
###8 attendees
Past events
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