{"id":1705,"date":"2014-04-21T21:50:18","date_gmt":"2014-04-22T01:50:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bffct.org\/bff\/?page_id=1705"},"modified":"2026-03-15T18:02:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T22:02:15","slug":"about-buddhist-faith-fellowship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bffct.org\/bff\/about-buddhist-faith-fellowship\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

YOU BELONG HERE<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the Buddhist Faith Fellowship, we believe that Buddhism isn’t about retreating from life\u2014it\u2019s about awakening within it. You don\u2019t need to shave your head, wear robes, or withdraw from the world to walk the Buddha\u2019s path. We are everyday people\u2014parents, teachers, artists, and seekers\u2014living extraordinary lives<\/em> 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\u2019s world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us to discover purpose, hope, and the joy of awakening\u2014not apart from life, but right in the heart of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be still; truth arises in silence<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a community of individuals from a variety of religious and non-religious backgrounds, we are deeply inspired by the wise and compassionate example of the historical Buddha and the living Buddhist teachings that have been clarified by generations of great teachers. What moves us most is the call of boundless compassion that welcomes us just as we are. Through the traditional Three Trainings of ethics, mindfulness, and wisdom, alongside teachings such as Other Power (grace), trust, and gratitude, we offer a practical and accessible path to greater peace and fulfillment in this moment and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014Buddha<\/em>, Dharma<\/em>, and Sangha<\/em>. We believe that the Buddhadharma<\/em> itself\u2014the Buddhist Teachings \u2014is enough to transform the world one person at a time, starting with each of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recognize that lasting transformation begins from within. To bring more clarity, compassion, and meaningful connection into our thinking and daily life, we first work to transform self-centered habits, unskillful patterns, and distraction into greater awareness, compassion, and care for others. In this way, we cultivate understanding and become more effective in service to others, addressing suffering with insight and compassion. Our practice emphasizes mindfulness, inner inquiry, and wholehearted engagement with life, helping each of us grow toward becoming bodhisattvas and Buddhas in the world. Recognizing that true transformation begins from within, we also see how modern life can pull us outward, prompting us to seek happiness and security in ways that overlook our inner refuge in the timeless Buddhist path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modernism, a cultural movement that prizes rationality, control, and external solutions, often encourages us to seek happiness, security, and relief primarily through external means, including technology, constant stimulation, productivity, consumption, or chemical solutions that promise escape from pain. While such tools can offer temporary comfort or convenience, modern life often conditions us to rely on them as substitutes for genuine refuge. Buddhism recognizes this tendency as a feature of modern consciousness itself, a restless turning outward that overlooks the roots of suffering and well-being within. At the Buddhist Faith Fellowship, we do not reject technology or medicine, nor do we judge those who seek relief through substances. Rather, we question the assumption that lasting fulfillment can be engineered, numbed, or outsourced. Instead, we invite people to take refuge in the ancient yet ever-relevant Buddhist path, pointing inward toward natural awareness, ethical living, wisdom, and compassion as the true foundations of healing, happiness, and freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We warmly invite everyone to participate in our gatherings, courses, and retreats\u2014no 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. As our dharma teacher often says, “Come and join us, just as you are.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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