John Main

Presentation:  March 6, 2010

Carla Cooper, Ph.D.

Brief Description of Presentation

The talk will describe the life and work of John Main (1926-1982). 

Many thousands of people across the world have found their spiritual lives enriched by the daily practice of silent prayer taught by the Benedictine monk, John Main.  We will examine this tradition which draws on the ancient wisdom of the Bible, the Hindu Upanishads, and the early Christian Desert Fathers, in particular the teachings of John Cassian. 

John Main's life and teaching inspired the World Community for Christian Meditation, which continues his vision of simplicity and silence in dialogues with spiritual leaders of all faith backgrounds and through a rich collections of CDs and books from John Main and his successor, Laurence Freeman, OSB.  We will see how both John Main and Laurence Freeman have been instrumental in the rediscovery of the  the ancient root of wordless prayer in the Christian tradition and have helped lead men and women around the world to a "country beyond words and beyond names," where they find mystical union with the Divine and communion with all.

Prayer Exercise

The speaker will lead a session of meditation as taught by John Main OSB, 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 a preparation article about John Main's life and spiritual journey.  

http://www.wccm.org/images/JMMonasticAdvent3.htm

For additional material on John Main see:   http://www.wccm.org/home.asp?pagestyle=home

Further bibliography to be provided at the Saturday session.

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.