Justin Masey decided to clear his mind.

The freshman construction management major wanted to relax.

A bell was tapped and the meditation period began.

Masey attended the Buddhist Meditation-Philosphy session Thursday in the Oakland Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Earlier in the week, he saw fliers on campus for the session and decided to attend.

“I am going to relax, and this seems like it would just be fun,” Masey said before the session began.

The session started with members sitting on the floor and introducing themselves to their peers.

Ellen McNamara, senior communication disorders and sciences major, said the meditation group started last year with a few members. She said Young Sook Lee, philosophy professor, assisted the students in getting the group started.

Lee said that last year during her Buddhism class, students asked if she would start a meditation group.

So she did. Lee said she wants students and faculty to obtain a good life through meditation.

The purpose of meditation is to see things for what they really are.

“You can see things clearly when the mind is calm,” Lee said.

During Buddhist Meditation-Philosophy sessions, the group uses some of the Buddhist techniques to meditate.

“You do not have to be Buddhist-affiliated to join,” McNamara said.

The group plans to learn other practices and techniques of meditation. McNamara said later in the year, the group will have speakers come and lecture on stress management and foods to eat in order to help the meditation process.

Near the end of the session, Lee had the group do a five-minute meditation period.

During this time, the group sat on the floor and faced the wall.

Masey joined the group on the floor, crossed his legs, turned to face the wall and closed his eyes.

Lee said she wanted the participants to concentrate on their breathing, and to be calm.

“The more calm you are, the deeper you will become in your meditation,” she said. “You start to reflect on things the way they really are.”

After five minutes, the bell was tapped to end the meditation period.

Lee said in order to meditate, one has to enjoy it.

Laura Black, senior theater major, said the meditation process helps one focus.

“It gives pure focus that you can get from nowhere else,” she said.

The meditation group will meet again Thursday in the Casey Room in the Union. Times for meditation sessions will be posted near the room by the door.

McNamara said all students and faculty are welcome.

Young Sook Lee, a professor of philosophy, speaks about the meaning of mediation Thursday afternoon in the Oakland Room of the Martin Luther King Jr Union during the Buddist mediation and philosophy meeting. Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News

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