New to Zen? You are welcome here.
You can arrive with no experience, no special vocabulary, and no need to perform. We will show you how to sit, what to do, and where to begin.
What is Zen?
Zen is a practice of seated meditation, walking meditation, everyday awareness, and community. The heart of the practice is zazen: sitting upright, breathing naturally, and returning to this moment.
upright
Take a steady seat on a cushion, bench, or chair.
naturally
Let the breath settle on its own. Nothing to force.
again
When the mind wanders, gently begin again.
Understanding can come later. Practice starts with sitting down.
What we practice
We practice zazen, seated meditation, in the Sōtō Zen tradition. A typical gathering includes simple instruction, silent sitting, walking meditation called kinhin, and time for tea and questions afterward.
Zazen, seated meditation
Kinhin, walking meditation
Dharma reflection, a short teaching or reading
Tea and questions, a relaxed time to connect
Sunday mornings, first and third
We sit on the first and third Sunday of each month at Cancer Survivors Park Center for Hope & Healing in Greenville. Nothing about the morning will surprise you. If you are new, someone will quietly show you what to do.
New student orientation
If it is your first visit, arrive by 7:50 for a short, friendly orientation. You may come and go quietly while it is underway.
Zazen
The bell rings at 8:15 exactly, a strict and silent start. Please try not to enter after it. If you arrive late, join us at kinhin.
Kinhin
A slow, quiet walk between sitting periods. It is also the natural time to come or go if you need to: bow and step in, or bow and step out.
Zazen
Return to the cushion or chair.
Dharma reading and conversation
A brief reading and a simple, open conversation.
Dismissal
We end on time.
First and third Sunday mornings at Cancer Survivors Park Center for Hope & Healing, 52 Cleveland Street, Greenville (free parking at 44 Cleveland). Sittings are silent and adults-only, free to attend, volunteer-led, and open to every adult. We gather at Cancer Survivors Park Center for Hope & Healing, with gratitude to the Cancer Survivors Park Alliance for welcoming our practice to this quiet place beside the river.
First and third Sunday mornings at Cancer Survivors Park Center for Hope & Healing. An RSVP is welcome but never required; anyone may simply arrive.
- Sunday, August 2 8:00–9:30 a.m.
- Sunday, August 16 8:00–9:30 a.m.
- Sunday, September 6 8:00–9:30 a.m.
- Sunday, September 20 8:00–9:30 a.m.
Our occasional newsletter. Sitting dates, gentle notes on practice, and news as the center takes shape. We write rarely, and only when there is something worth saying.
How to sit
The posture is upright and relaxed. You can sit on a cushion, bench, or chair.
“To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self.”Dōgen Zenji · Genjōkōan
Practicing together
Zen practice is personal, and it is supported by community. We sit together so returning becomes easier, and so we can carry practice into work, relationships, and ordinary life.
Greenville Zen Center is a young Zen practice community, growing carefully. Our hope is to create a place that can outgrow its founders and serve the community for years to come.
Stay in touch →
Keep the room open.
Every sitting here is free, and always will be. What keeps it free is dāna, the old practice of generosity, freely offered and freely received. A gift is never a fee for the teaching. It is part of the practice itself.
- Free for all. Every sitting stays open to everyone, always.
- A place to sit. Cushions, mats, and materials for those who are new.
- A lasting home. Toward a steady place for practice in the Upstate.
Give once, or monthly · a registered 501(c)(3), so your gift is tax-deductible · we use Zeffy, so every dollar reaches the practice · no one is ever turned away for lack of a gift.
Take the guide home.
A short beginner’s introduction to sitting, walking, breathing, and beginning practice at Greenville Zen Center. It is yours, free, with no sign-up and nothing to fill in.
- What is Zen?
- How to sit
- What to expect
- A simple practice at home
- Common questions
Free to read or keep, with no email required. Questions? Write to [email protected].
From people who sit with us
“Everyone was so welcoming, and the space was great.”
“I’m glad a Zen center is finally coming to Greenville.”
“The time of day was perfect, and everyone was very helpful and welcoming.”
“I appreciate the energy and effort put into making this happen.”
Still wondering?
Never meditated?
None needed. Many people sit for the very first time with us, and the 8:00 orientation is made exactly for newcomers.
Do I have to be Buddhist?
No. You do not have to be Buddhist or hold any belief. Zen is something you do, not something you sign. Come as you are.
Can I sit in a chair?
Yes. Chairs are always available, and sitting in a chair is a complete way to practice.