By James Whitlow

For The Diamondback

Sitting cross-legged in the sunlight on McKeldin Mall — a glance away from McKeldin Library’s hustle and bustle — 15 University of Maryland students met Thursday to take a break from their busy lives to meditate.

From the concrete walkways crisscrossing the mall, passersby stared at the circle of closed-eyed students chanting a Sanskrit mantra and rhythmically touching their fingers together with each syllable.

While not affiliated with any campus organization, the group of students routinely gathers for an hour every Thursday at 6 p.m. to relieve stress while going through different types of guided meditation.

“When the sun is shining, McKeldin Mall is where I’m guiding,” said James Lord, one of the students who guides the sessions.

Lord, a junior communication major, usually convenes the group at campus radio station WMUC or on the mall when the weather permits. He said attendance usually ranges from seven to 15 students per session.

Lord guides the meditation sessions by telling participants to focus on their breathing, posture or certain mantras. As a guide, he said, he helps participants deepen their own understanding of meditation and accomplish what they wish.

“I always like to emphasize that meditation is a personal practice,” he said. “At the end of the day, you can read all the books you want to read or have someone teach you, but meditation, at its core, is a personal journey.”

Emma Wulf, a sophomore enrolled in letters and sciences, said she thinks the meditation sessions are valuable because they give her time each week to decompress.

“It feels really important to have some stillness in the week,” Wulf said. “It has this effect of just sort of bringing me into the present and into my body in this nice way.”

Lord said meditation can be valuable for a host of reasons, including relaxation and spiritual fulfillment. Students participate for several reasons — some spiritual, while others said they just want to find a quiet space to think or fall asleep.

“Some people, I think, are deeply spiritual people … some people come here just to take a deep breath and relax,” Lord said. “It’s a pretty dynamic group.”

Sophomore Casey Webbert, enrolled in letters and sciences, said meditation helps to clear her head and improve her state of mind. Webbert said the sessions foster a sense of community among the participating students.

“It improves my mood … and it’s nice to do it in a group setting,” she said. “It sort of becomes a community thing.”

Lord said he hopes to see more people at the weekly meditation sessions because they can have a positive effect on students’ lives.

“I hope it grows and grows and grows,” Lord said. “It’s an awesome, awesome thing for college students.”

As the most recent session last Thursday came to a close, the students raised their arms toward the sky and ended with three long “om”s.

“Embrace the fact that we look like a bunch of crazy people shaking our arms and sitting on the mall,” Lord said with a grin.