 Simplicity of a Weyl algebra in characteristic zero

In a nonzero two-sided ideal choose an element of least Bernstein filtration degree. Commuting it with any position or differentiation generator lowers degree, so all such commutators vanish. The ordered monomial basis of a Weyl algebra and characteristic zero then force it to be a nonzero scalar. The ideal is the whole ring. The argument fails in positive characteristic, when powers of the generators can be central.