YOU BELONG HERE.
At the Buddhist Faith Fellowship, we believe that Buddhism isn’t about retreating from life—it’s about awakening within it. You don’t need to shave your head, wear robes, or withdraw from the world to walk the Buddha’s path. We are everyday people—parents, teachers, artists, and seekers—living extraordinary lives shaped by the timeless wisdom of the Buddha. Our teachers are certified and trained in authentic Buddhist lineages, sharing the Dharma in ways that speak to today’s world.
Join us to discover purpose, hope, and the joy of awakening—not apart from life, but right in the heart of it.
Be still; truth arises in silence.
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.
Our mission and vision focus on sharing, promoting, and practicing the Buddhist teachings without any political agenda. We do not endorse any political theory, ideology, or social activism, but we solely focus and rely on the Three Jewels—Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. We believe that the Buddhadharma itself—the Buddhist Teachings —is enough to transform the world one person at a time, starting with each of us.
We cannot hope to ever make a difference in our thinking, daily interactions, or the world if we do not first look within and transform our self-centeredness, bad habits, and distractions into altruism, a growth mindset, and awareness—that is, to become the best versions of ourselves, to become bodhisattvas and Buddhas. Then, our newly awakened selves can become more skillful and effective vessels in service to others, mending the suffering so prevalent in the world; thus, we abstain from engaging with negative and worldly ideologies that have only caused more misunderstanding, alienation, and unhappiness.
We warmly invite everyone to participate in our gatherings, courses, and retreats—no prior knowledge or experience with Buddhism is needed. Our approach to the Buddhist teachings and practices is designed to be highly accessible and supportive, offering practical insights that are easy to follow and meaningful for people from all walks of life. Come and join us, just as you are.
Our Story
Our journey began on Hana-matsuri Festival in April 2001, celebrating the historical Buddha’s birth, when a small group gathered in Rev. G.R. Lewis’ apartment in Bristol, Connecticut, near ESPN.
Inspired by his studies under Venerable Thich Tri Hoang—a 43rd-generation member of the Lieu Quan lineage in the Thièn Lâm Te (Linji Chan, i.e., Rinzai Zen) school—and after receiving lamp transmission and ordination as a dharma teacher in the Dharma Teacher Order in 2000, our founding teacher, Rev. G.R. Lewis, M.A. (Nguyện Trí / Wisdom Vow)), studies and training drew on Theravada, Mahayana, Thièn (Vietnamese Zen), and Pure Land traditions.
Seeking to deepen his education, he then continued his studies under prominent teachers in the Shin Buddhist and Vajrayana schools, including the late Rev. Taitetsu Unno, Ph.D., through his Lay Teacher’s Program at the Northampton Shin Sangha in Massachusetts. Galvanized by Rev. Unno vision, Rev. Lewis formally established the Buddhist Faith Fellowship in 2001 as Connecticut’s first independent group blending Zen and Shin traditions, with the aim to invite a new generation into the path of awakening and compassion.. Over decades, he has refined this vision and teachings, forging a new path from self-effort to grace that truly reflects Mahayana’s non-duality—advaya.
The first years of the Buddhist Faith Fellowship were filled with shared purpose, but soon outgrew the little apartment. After searching for a public place to gather, we found a low-budget space at Elmwood Community Center in West Hartford where we meet for two years. In 2004, we found a spiritual home at Wesleyan University in Middletown, first meeting at Memorial Chapel before moving to the Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, which includes a tatami room and overlooks the beautiful Shôyôan Teien Zen garden, which has inspired our Meditation & Talk Sundays.
Since then, over the years, our fellowship grew into a vibrant Buddhist community, offering a variety of enriching programs, courses, workshops, and retreats. We expanded to include local chapters across the United States, providing resources and support to a diverse range of practitioners. While some initiatives, such as our environmental, philosophical, and family groups, were phased out, their legacy of community and spiritual growth continued to inspire our mission.
For 16 years, our fellowship’s activities were held exculsively in Middletown, Connecticut, until the global health crisis in 2020, when we transitioned to an online format. Surprising, our online presence lead to an unexpected boon of expanded national and international participation in our Meditation & Talk Meetings. Post-pandemic, we joyfully resumed in-person activities in Middletown and amplified our presence on social media platforms such as Meetup.com, Facebook, X, and Instagram, and have reignited our outdoor activities, inviting all to join us on this transformative journey.
As of this writing, the Buddhist Faith Fellowship stands as the only community in New England—encompassing Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine—blending Zen and Shin traditions, unique and independent in its integrative path.
Our story is not complete; we are still evolving. Come, be part of this unfolding journey. Join us on Sunday mornings or in our courses or retreats to experience the transformative path of mindfulness, grace, and connection.
Our Teachings
Our teachings grow from the great stream of Mahayana Buddhism – the Universal Vehicle – with a special emphasis on Zen and Pure Land. Like the 17th century Zen Master Bankei, who spoke of the simple, ever-present innate “Unborn Mind,” and the 13th century religious reformer, Shinran Shonin, who taught the way of deep trust and gratitude through the Great Compassion, known as Amida Buddha, we seek to make the Buddhadharma accessible for everyday people in the midst of ordinary life. What may seem like complex teachings are, at heart, reminders that awakening and compassion are available to all of us, here and now.
We also draw inspiration from a number of the great Mahayana scriptures. The Queen Śrimala Sutra and other Tathagatagarbha (Buddha-nature) sutras remind us that every being, no matter how lost or burdened, carries the seed of awakening within. The Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life invites us to entrust ourselves to the Great Compassion and its grace, while the Lotus Sutra proclaims that through skillful means (upaya), there is one vehicle of awakening, open to everyone without exception. Other texts, such as the Lankavatara Sutra, point us toward the nature of mind itself, while the stories of the Buddha’s life remind us that the Dharma is lived, not just studied.
We also draw on the teachings of the 6th century Master Zhiyi (Chi-i) on the Three Truths: Provisional Truth (samvṛti-satya), which we experience as Samsara, the world as we experience it; Ultimate Truth (paramārtha-satya), which is identifed as Nirvana, the ultimate reality beyond conceptual limits; and the Middle Way (madhyamā-pratipad), the nondual dynamic unity and realization of the provisional and the ultimate dimensions. Simply put, this framework helps us see that ordinary appearances and ultimate reality are not separate but interpenetrate into oneness. This insight resonates with the Heart Sutra, which reminds us that “form is emptiness, emptiness is form; form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form.” As the 9th century Zen master Linji said, “The one is in the many and the many are in the one.” In other words, awakening comes from recognizing that the relative and the absolute are inseparable and that true understanding arises from perceiving their unity.
In plain and practical language, we share these timeless stories and insights to help people live more mindfully, cultivate faith and compassion, and awaken to the deeper truth of non-duality—advaya, the reality that transcends all opposites. Whether through meditation, mindfulness, or the deep trust in the dynamic activity of the Great Compassion, our path offers a gentle movement from self-effort toward grace, from striving toward letting go. Ultimately, the Dharma is not abstract philosophy but a living path that helps us find clarity, kindness, and freedom in the midst of our lives.
In this way, the Buddhist Faith Fellowship shares a living Buddhism for today’s world. Join us, discover the enlightenment, embrace your purpose, find hope, and experience the dynamic activity of the Great Compassion within.
Come as you are
For disciples and seekers. For individuals and families. For young and old. For men and women. For the highly educated and not so learned. For believers and non-believers. For saints and the wicked. For the lucky and for the less fortunate. For straight and gay. For any race and ethnic group. For blue collars, white collars and no collars. For liberals, conservatives, and any other political belief. For the healthy and the sick. For locals and from abroad. At Buddhist Faith Fellowship, labels do not matter; the Buddha’s message of transformation and supreme liberation is open for everyone. Come as you are.
Join Buddhist Faith Fellowship’s Facebook Group. This interactive open space is a great place to learn about Buddhism, share knowledge and experiences with the teachings, and keep in touch with the Fellowship’s activities. Click the Facebook icon to enter.