About us
### 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
8
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.
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6 attendees
Buddhism 101 Course: Living Fully, Letting Go Gracefully
·OnlineOnline## Understanding the Buddhist View of Life and Death
Classes begin April 1, 2026
Open enrollment ends March 24, 2026What if learning how to die well is really about learning how to live well?
Join us at Buddhist Faith Fellowship for this welcoming Buddhism 101 online course, where we gently explore Buddhist teachings on impermanence, the dying process, and how our daily habits shape the way we meet change, loss, and the end of life.
Blending excerpts from How We Live Is How We Die by Pema Chödrön, timeless Buddhist insights, Clear Light Meditation practices, and practical perspectives from hospice care, you’ll discover tools to live with greater steadiness, reduce fear around uncertainty, and approach transitions with kindness and clarity.This is not a heavy or morbid subject. It is about freedom and presence. By looking directly at impermanence, we open to courage, gratitude, and deeper connection in every moment.
***
### In this four-class series, you’ll discover:
- Buddhist perspectives on the journey of life and death
- How everyday thoughts and patterns influence end-of-life experience
- Gentle ways to work with fear, anxiety, and resistance
- The power of Clear Light Meditation to prepare the mind
- Simple contemplative practices for meeting change with clarity
***
### Led by Melissa Lewis, RN, BSN, CHPN
Melissa brings more than 30 years of Zen practice (since 1995), formal transmission as a lineage holder in the Clear Light Society, and hands-on experience as a certified palliative and hospice nurse. Her rare combination of contemplative depth and clinical realism creates a safe, grounded space where spiritual teachings meet real-life compassion.
***
### Course Details
Four classes over five weeks
Wednesdays, 7:00–9:00 pm, beginning April 1, 2026
One Wednesday will be skipped during the series
Contribution: $195
No prior Buddhist experience needed — all are welcome.
Enrollment closes March 24, 2026. Spaces are limited.
Learn more and RSVP here:
https://bffct.org/bff/buddhism-101-living-fully-dying-gracefully-course/***
Come explore how to live more fully today — and let go with grace when the time comes. We look forward to sharing this journey with you.
5 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.
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7 attendees
Past events
971
