Simone Weil

Presentation:  January 9, 2010

Carla Cooper, Ph.D.

Brief Description of Presentation

The talk will describe the life and work of Simone Weil, who was born in France in 1909 and died in England in 1943.  Weil was born to a secular, intellectual Jewish family, but became one of the greatest Christian mystics of the 20th century--and a teacher whose thought has tremendous spiritual, social, and political implications for us today.  In particular, she is an especially helpful guide as we grapple with religious fundamentalism or what she called "religious patriotism."  

Prayer Exercise

The speaker will lead a session of meditation as taught by John Main OSB (1926-1982), founder of the World Community for Christian Mediation. 

John Main recommended two daily periods of meditation between 25 and 30 minutes in duration.  His teaching was simple: Sit down. Sit still and upright, with back straight.  Close your eyes lightly.  Be relaxed but alert.  Silently, interiorly begin to say a single word.  If you don't have a word or a mantra, John Main recommended the prayer phrase "maranatha." Recite it as four syllables of equal length. Ma-ra-na-tha, Listen to it as you say it, gently but continuously. Don't think or imagine anything -- spiritual or otherwise.  Thoughts and images will arise, but let them pass.  Just keep returning your attention -- with humility and simplicity -- to saying your word from the beginning to the end of your meditation.

Preparation for Session and Bibliography

Click below for preparation readings for the lecture.
 

Three meditative teachings by Laurence Freeman, OSB with post-meditation readings from Simone Weil.
These readings help introduce Weil and place her in the contemplative tradition.

Recommended as the best introduction to Simone Weil, Waiting For God, translated by Emma Craufurd with Introduction by Leslie Fiedler (New York: Harper Perennial Classics, 2001)

Also recommended:

The Simone Weil Reader, ed. by George Panichas (Mt Kisco, NY: Moyer Bell, 1977)

Enlightened By Love: The Thought of Simone Weil, written and produced by David Cayley (Canada: CBC AUDIO, 2002).

Class members may also go to the Simone Weil section of the website www.rivertext.com for more information.
 

About Carla Cooper

Carla Cooper is a frequent teacher of meditation and contemplative spirituality.  She served as chair of the international Guiding Board for the World Community for Christian Meditation from 1995-2005.  From 1994 to present, she has led the WCCM's weekly internet meditation group at www.wccm.org (Weekly Readings).  

She began her career as a professor of literature and interdisciplinary humanities in the University of Houston System, where she also served in numerous administrative roles.  In 1994, she became Sr. Vice President of St Luke's Episcopal Health System in Houston and from 1997-2005 was CEO of St Luke's Episcopal Health Charities.  

She relocated to the Texas Hill Country in 2006 and since 2007, has served as Assistant Dean of the University Texas School of Law.  A native of South Dakota, she received her PhD in literature from Purdue University.