William Cooper

William Cooper is an American meditation teacher whose subject is awakening: recognising, by direct experience, the aware self that is untouched by passing thoughts and moods. He studied psychology and studio art at Vanderbilt and Florida State, completed a four-year Master of Theology at Harding seminary in Memphis in 1982, and later qualified as a counsellor. He has meditated since 1973, served as board president of a Unity church, trained in the Oneness movement, and since 2004 has made many long stays in India and Bhutan, often near the hill of Arunachala at Tiruvannamalai.

His approach blends Eastern teaching with a practical Western eye. The core practice he gives is simple: sit, rest the gaze forward, and let whatever arises unwind without getting involved, ideally for an hour a day. He supports this with short written contemplations, longer story-based writings first shared with a group he led in Austin, Texas, and a free podcast of well over a hundred short episodes meant to be heard in order. He now holds free live sessions every few weeks, open to anyone who wants to listen or ask questions, and is clear that these awakening groups are separate from his work as a therapist.