Buddhist Faith Fellowship of Connecticut

Buddhist Faith Fellowship of Connecticut Join our contemplative center and nurturing community blending the best of Zen and Shin Buddhism. Join us in Middletown, CT or online!

Our courses and activities are accessible and easy to follow for all. The Buddhist Faith Fellowship in Middletown, Connecticut is a practice and training center with an open and nurturing community, dedicated to spiritual fulfillment and enlightenment. Here, mindfulness flourishes, kindness is practiced, wisdom is embraced, and compassion is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a variety of

activities to promote the Buddhist teachings, training, and practices, such as our Meditation & Talk Sundays, morning Mindfulness Retreats, Buddhism 101 courses, and a number of spiritual, cultural, and outdoor field trips. See our Courses and Programs tabs or calendar for current activities. We are open to the public; no experience or knowledge of Buddhism necessary. As a community of American converts from various traditional religious and non-religious backgrounds, we have been inspired by the wise and loving example of the historical Buddha, his profound teachings, and its skillful continuation that since has been clarified by the great masters; most importantly, we are inspired by the call of Boundless Compassion that accepts us just as we are. Through the traditional Three Trainings of ethics, mindfulness, and wisdom, and the teachings of Other Power (grace), trust, and gratitude, we provide a practical and direct pathway to peace and fulfillment in both the present moment and beyond. Mission

The Buddhist Faith Fellowship is dedicated to sharing the Buddhist teachings of awareness, wisdom, and compassion, and to promoting spaces and communities for its practice and development in order to guide all truth-seekers to spiritual enlightenment, thereby advancing human flourishing and benefit all sentient beings in the world. Vision

As 21st century spiritual pioneers, we envision an innovative, practical, and thriving American Buddhism that meets the religious, ethical, and psychological needs of our generation and culture through the liberating teachings of classical Buddhism – Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana- with special emphasis on Zen and Pure Land teachings – while being Informed by the discoveries of modern science and recognizing the biophysical realities of human existence, to inspire universal spiritual awakening for all. Visit our website to explore our unique approach to Buddhism, current programs, and upcoming events: https://bffct.org/bff/.

In the busyness of our daily lives we so easily forget that peace is not somewhere we need to travel to. It is not a des...
06/11/2026

In the busyness of our daily lives we so easily forget that peace is not somewhere we need to travel to. It is not a destination, an achievement, or something waiting for us on the other side of our to-do list. It is here, right now, in this very moment.

The sound of a bell calling us back to awareness. The song of a bird cutting through the noise of our thinking mind. The quiet, steady rhythm of our own heart, faithful and present through every joy and sorrow we have ever known. These are not distractions from our practice. They are the practice. Each one a gentle finger pointing us back to the awareness that has always been here, patient and undisturbed, like still water beneath the surface of a busy stream.

The Buddha taught that our true home is not a place outside ourselves. It is the open, luminous awareness that is our deepest nature. We do not need to create it, earn it, or perfect ourselves before we are allowed to rest in it. We only need to stop, breathe, and listen. The bell is always ringing. The birds are always singing. And your heart, wise and tender beyond measure, has never stopped calling you home. May each moment of stillness today be an invitation to remember what you have always been.

- Rev. G.R. Lewis, M.A. - BFF Guiding Teacher


Stay Connected. Stay Inspired.Would you like to receive updates on upcoming classes, workshops, retreats, meditation pro...
06/06/2026

Stay Connected. Stay Inspired.

Would you like to receive updates on upcoming classes, workshops, retreats, meditation programs, Dharma talks, and community activities at the Buddhist Faith Fellowship?

Our Community News emails are the best way to stay informed about what's happening at the BFF and to receive occasional inspiration and resources for your practice.

Whether you attend regularly or are simply interested in meditation, mindfulness, and Buddhist teachings, we'd be delighted to stay in touch.

πŸ‘‰ Sign-up link in the comments below.

What first brought you to meditation or mindfulness?



06/05/2026

This June β€” Wake Up to Inner Peace
Meditation. Healing. Community. Awakening.

All of it β€” right here in Middletown, CT.
Whether you're brand new or a longtime practitioner, BFF's June programs meet you exactly where you are.

πŸ‘‰ See what's waiting for you, visit our website

Good Morning Everyone



UPCOMING: Sound Bath, Waterfall Meditation, Tibetan Yoga & Summer Courses at BFF1) Zen Sound Bathing ExperienceThis Satu...
06/04/2026

UPCOMING: Sound Bath, Waterfall Meditation, Tibetan Yoga & Summer Courses at BFF

1) Zen Sound Bathing Experience

This Saturday, June 6 | 6:00–7:30 p.m. | Fundraiser for BFF | Middletown, CT

Due to many requests, reiki master and sound healer Kris Emory returns for one more immersive evening of sound and stillness, inviting deep relaxation and embodied awareness. To learn more, visit our website.

Tickets are at the door ($30) (cash, Venmo or Paypal)

2) Waterfall Meditation & Trek at Wadsworth Falls

Date: Sunday, June 7, 2025 |10-11:30 AM | Middletown, CT | No Advance Registration Required

Join us for a refreshing morning of sitting and walking meditation by the waterfall, followed by a light hike and socializing. Experience late spring’s beauty, breathe deeply, and connect with friends in nature. Suggest donation $10- $20. To learn more, visit our website.

3) Meditation Made Easy Course

Begins Sunday, June 14 | 10:45 11:30 a.m. | $45 β€’ Middletown, CT

Transform your life! Meditation and mindfulness doesn’t have to be complicated. Meditation Made Easy is a warm and accessible 4-session summer course designed to help you build a steady, enjoyable meditation practice that fits your real life.

⏳ Enrollment closes June 7.

πŸ‘₯ Space is limited

πŸ‘‰ Learn more & register, visit our website.

4) Tibetan Yoga & Energetic Healing Workshop

Thursday, June 18 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $88 β€’ Online via Zoom

Discover practical Tibetan methods for cultivating emotional balance, vitality, and inner well-being. Through guided instruction in Tibetan yoga, breathwork, meditation, and energetic healing practices, participants will learn techniques designed to harmonize body and mind while supporting greater clarity, resilience, and emotional mastery. Suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners.

πŸ‘₯ Space is limited

πŸ‘‰ Learn more & register, visit our website.




Come and join us this Saturday in Middletown.
06/03/2026

Come and join us this Saturday in Middletown.

Our Zen Garden Sound Bath Experience is returning this Saturday, June 6th, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the BFF Middletown,...
06/03/2026

Our Zen Garden Sound Bath Experience is returning this Saturday, June 6th, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the BFF Middletown, 343 Washington terrace. By popular demand, Kris Emory with her ensemble of singing bowls will be leading us into another deep and relaxing meditative state. Please bring a blanket or yoga mat to lay on the floor. Maybe a pillow too. This is a fundraiser for the BFF. It's $30 at the door cash or Venmo.

Visit our website for more information. Bring a friend or two and afterwards go out for dinner in the many restaurants on Main Street Middletown. See you then.

Buddhist Faith Fellowship of Connecticut


06/02/2026

Much of our suffering comes not from what is happening, but from our attempts to cling to what we like or resist what we do not. The Buddha taught that all conditioned things arise and pass away according to causes and conditions. When we forget this, we become entangled in worry, resentment, fear, and endless striving. We exhaust ourselves trying to hold on to what cannot remain and push away what has already arrived.

The path of awakening invites a different relationship with experience. Through mindfulness, meditation, and compassionate awareness, we gradually learn to meet each moment with openness rather than resistance. In doing so, we begin to discover a deeper dimension of ourselves that is not confined by passing thoughts and emotions. The Mahayana teachings call this Buddha Nature, the innate clarity and compassion present within every being. When we rest in that deeper reality, life continues to change, but our hearts become more spacious, more resilient, and more free.

-- Rev. G.R. Lewis, M.A. - BFF Guiding Teacher

This morning at the Buddhist Faith Fellowship, we explored the teaching of shenpa, the moments when the mind gets hooked...
05/31/2026

This morning at the Buddhist Faith Fellowship, we explored the teaching of shenpa, the moments when the mind gets hooked and pulled into old habits and reactions.

The path of practice is not about never getting caught. It is about learning how to recognize the hook, pause, breathe, and return to the spacious awareness that is always present beneath the storm.

Thank you to everyone who shared in today's meditation and Dharma discussion. May all beings find freedom from suffering and the causes of suffering.

We also invite you to join us for our upcoming programs:

β€’ Saturday at 6:00 PM β€” Zen Sound Bath with Kris Emory in Middletown

β€’ Sunday at 10:00 AM β€” Waterfall Meditation at Wadsworth Falls in Middletown

β€’ Sunday, June 14 at 10:45 AM β€” Meditation Made Easy, an in person introductory meditation course in Middletown

We hope to see you soon.

Address

College For East Asian Studies, 343 Washington Terrace, Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
06457

Opening Hours

9am - 10:30am

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