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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New England Peace Pagoda Celebration
New England Peace Pagoda, 100 Cave Hill Road, Leverett, MA, USWe wanted to share this wonderful upcoming event with our BFF community in case you would like to attend independently.
The New England Peace Pagoda in Leverett, Massachusetts will be celebrating its 41st year anniversary on Sunday, October 4, 2026, beginning at approximately 11:00 AM. The celebration is expected to include ceremony, speakers, and food and is free and open to everyone regardless of background or belief.
Please note that the Pagoda’s website is still being updated with the official announcement. We strongly encourage interested visitors to check the Pagoda’s website directly to confirm all dates, times, and details before making plans to attend.New England Peace Pagoda: https://newenglandpeacepagoda.org/
Wat Kiry Vongsa Bopharam: https://www.templenews.org#### A few helpful notes if you do decide to go:
A few helpful notes if you do decide to go:
📍 Located in Leverett, MA — approximately 1.5 hours from Middletown, CT
🕙 Plan to arrive by 10:30 AM — earlier than the posted start time
🅿️ Parking is free at the bottom of the hill at the Wat Kiry Vongsa Bopharam — walk or take a shuttle up to the Pagoda
🚗 Parking is limited — carpooling with friends is highly recommendedThe Buddhist Faith Fellowship is not organizing this as an official event and is sharing this purely as a community notice for those who may be interested in attending on their own. We take no responsibility for any changes to the program or schedule — please verify all details directly with the Pagoda before attending.
5 attendees
Autumn Silent Simplicity Retreat
Buddhist Faith Fellowship of Connecticut, Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 343 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT 06459, USA, Middletown, CT, USFeeling overwhelmed or mentally cluttered? Step into a morning of stillness.
Join us for a 2.5-hour Autumn Silent Simplicity Mindfulness Retreat, a peaceful morning of meditation, reflection, and quiet presence set against the beauty of the season.
Sunday, October 11, 2026. Pre-registration is required.9:00 – 11:30 AM (arrival 8:30 – 8:50 AM)
Middletown, CT – Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies
This retreat includes:• Simple, guided sitting meditation (Six Points of Posture)
• Gentle walking meditation
• Noble silence throughout
No experience needed. Open to all.
This is not about religion or belief. It is about the human practice of mindfulness—being present, aware, and at ease.
Whether you are new to meditation or have an established practice, this morning offers space to:• Clear the mind and restore focus
• Reduce stress and reconnect inwardly
• Experience a deeper sense of calm and clarityYou’ll practice in a quiet, beautiful setting overlooking the Shoyoan Tien Zen garden—an ideal environment to slow down and reset.
Enrollment is limited. Pre-registration is required.To enroll, visit our website here: https://bffct.org/bff/silent-simplicity-retreat-autumn/
Registration closes October 10. No walk-ins.
Reserve your spot today.4 attendees
Meditation & Talk Sundays — Slow Down. Breathe. Reconnect.
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.
NOTE: There are at least 15-20 people in attendance beyond the Meetup RSVPs.
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5 attendees
Buddhism 101: Walking the Bodhisattva Path | Six Paramitas | Live on Zoom|
·OnlineOnlineWhat if your everyday life — your relationships, your struggles, your ordinary moments — was already the Bodhisattva Path?
******Open Enrollment via website closes October 18, 2026
The Six Paramitas — generosity, ethics, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom — are Mahayana Buddhism's most practical and immediately applicable teachings. They don't ask you to retreat from your life. They ask you to meet it more fully, more wisely, and with a progressively more open and compassionate heart.
This autumn, Buddhist Faith Fellowship is offering a warm, beginner-friendly two-session live Zoom course exploring how each of the six perfections can transform your daily life — your work, your relationships, and your spiritual practice.
Guided by Rev. G.R. Lewis, M.A. and drawing from The Six Paramitas by Chan Master Sheng Yen, this course brings these timeless teachings to life through engaging discussion, reflection, and real-life application.
No prior experience needed. Open to all backgrounds and beliefs.
What We'll Explore:
🌸 Generosity (Dana) — giving without self-attachment ⚖️ Morality (Sila) — ethics as compassion in action 🌊 Patience (Ksanti) — wisdom in the face of difficulty 🔥 Diligence (Virya) — joyful effort for the benefit of all 🧘 Meditation (Dhyana) — awareness beyond the cushion 💎 Wisdom (Prajna) — the perfection that illuminates all othersCourse Details:
📅 2 Sessions: October 25 & November 8, 2026 🕕 Sundays | 6:00 – 8:00 PM Eastern 💻 Live on Zoom — link sent upon registration 💵 $108 ⚠️ Enrollment closes October 18, 2026 📖 Required text: The Six Paramitas by Chan Master Sheng Yen 🌍 No prerequisites — completely beginner friendly👉 Full details & registration: https://bffct.org/bff/buddhism-101-walking-the-bodhisattva-path/
We'd love to walk this path with you.
5 attendees
Past events
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