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
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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.22 attendees
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.
###10 attendees
Meditation Made Easy In-person Course
Wesleyan University Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 345 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT, US5-Session In-Person Course
Begins February 22, 2026 · Middletown, CT
With Dharma Teacher G.R. Lewis
Enrollment closes February 16.
Discover meditation the simple, enjoyable way. This warm and accessible 5-session course teaches quiet sitting, conscious breathing, voice meditation, and mindful living — perfect for beginners or anyone wanting to refresh their practice.
Sessions take place facing the beautiful Shôyôan Teien Japanese Zen Garden, with weekly readings from Happiness by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Includes participation in our Meditation & Talk Sunday gatherings at 9:00 a.m. for deeper communal practice. For details and enroll, visit our web page: CLICK HERE.
✔ Calm your mind
✔ Build a consistent practice
✔ Bring mindfulness into everyday life
Dates: Sundays, Feb. 22 – Apr.. 26 (after Meditation & Talk)
Length: 30–40 minutes each
Contribution: $45 (for 5-classes)
Location: Buddhist Faith Fellowship of Connecticut, Middletown
Great companion to Buddhism 101: The Basics.
Register now — space is limited.
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.
For details and enroll, visit our web page: CLICK HERE.7 attendees
Past events
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