“The “feeling of being stared at” is the focus of a subset of distant-mental-interaction studies. This is a particularly interesting belief to investigate because it is related to one of the oldest known superstitions in the Western world, the “evil eye,” and to one of the oldest known blessings in the Eastern world, the darshan, or gaze of an enlightened master. Most ancient peoples feared the evil eye and took measures to deflect the attraction of the eye, often by wearing shiny or attractive amulets around the neck. Today, most fears about the evil eye have subsided, at least among educated peoples. And yet many people still report the “feeling of being stared at” from a distance. Is this visceral feeling what it appears to be—a distant mental influence of the nervous system—or can it be better understood in more prosaic ways? In the laboratory today, the question is studied by separating two people and monitoring the first person’s nervous system (usually electrodermal activity) while the second person stares at the first at random times over a one-way closed-circuit video system. The stared-at person has no idea when the starer is looking at him or her. Figure 9.2. Effect sizes for studies testing the “feeling of being stared at,” where 50 percent is chance expectation. Confidence intervals are 95 percent. Figure 9.2 shows the results for staring studies conducted over eight decades.34 Similar to William Braud’s electrodermal studies but conducted in a context that more closely matched common descriptions of “feeling stared at,” these studies resulted in an overall effect of 63 percent where chance expectation is 50 percent. This is remarkably robust for a phenomenon that—according to conventional scientific models—is not supposed to exist. The combined studies result in odds against chance of 3.8 million to 1. Summary Given the evidence for psi perception and mind-matter interaction effects discussed so far, we could have expected that experiments involving living systems would also be successful. The studies discussed here show that our expectations are confirmed. The implications for distant healing are clear. All the experiments discussed so far have been replicated in the laboratory dozens to hundreds of times. They demonstrate that some of the “psychic” experiences people report probably do involve genuine psi. Now we move outside the laboratory to examine a new type of experiment, one that explores mind-matter interaction effects apparently associated with the collective attention of groups.”
― Dean Radin, The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena
The “feeling of being stared at”
7 MarAll Is Holistic and Integrative
20 FebSystems Theory
A useful approach to understanding the interrelationship of all things is the framework known as systems theory, sometimes called “general systems theory.” The systems view of life studies the world in terms of patterns and relationships. A system is defined as an integrated whole whose properties cannot be reduced to those of its parts. Psychologist Lawrence LeShan: “Primarily, objects and events are part of a pattern which itself is part of a larger pattern, and so on until all is included in the grand plan and pattern of the universe. Individual objects and events exist, but their individuality is distinctly secondary to their being part of the unity of the pattern.”
Fritjof Capra:
Natural systems are wholes whose specific structures arise from the interactions and interdependence of their parts. Systemic properties are destroyed when a system is dissected, either physically or theoretically, into isolated elements. Although we can discern individual parts in any system, the nature of the whole is always different from the mere sum of its parts. Systems are intrinsically dynamic. Their forms are not rigid structures but are flexible yet stable manifestations of underlying processes . . . Living systems tend to form multi-leveled structures of systems within systems. For example, the human body contains organ systems composed of several organs, each organ being made up of tissues, and each tissue made up of cells. All these are living organisms or living systems which consist of smaller parts and, at the same time, act as parts of larger wholes. Living systems, then, exhibit a stratified order, and there are interconnections and interdependencies between all systems levels, each level interacting and communicating with its total environment. (14)
The natural world offers many examples of the collective action of individual members of a species creating larger, more complex systems embodying a group mind or intelligence.
Patterns of such collective coordination can be seen in highly integrated insect communities: “Extreme examples are the social insects – bees, wasps, ants, termites, and others – that form colonies whose members are so interdependent and in such close contact that the whole system resembles a large multi-creatured organism. Bees and ants are unable to survive in isolation, but in great numbers they act almost like the cells of a complex organism with a collective intelligence and capabilities for adaptation far superior to those of its individual members.”
Examples of systems abound in nature. Every organism – from the smallest bacterium through the wide range of plants and animals to humans – is an integrated whole and thus a living system. Cells are living systems, and so are the various tissues and organs of the body, the human brain being the most complex example. But systems are not confined to individual organisms and their parts. The same aspects of wholeness are exhibited by social systems – such as an anthill, a beehive, or a human family – and by ecosystems that consist of a variety of organisms and inanimate matter in mutual interaction. What is preserved in a wilderness area is not individual trees or organisms but the complex web of relationships between them. (15)
Systems theorists have identified some of the principal laws of nature exhibited by systems:
- Coherence: Complex systems are organized in such a way that each of its parts is linked with every other part. Coherence can exist both within the components of a given system (internal viability) and between other systems (external adaptation).
- Interaction: New forms and functions emerge as diverse elements interact. Interaction creates interconnection, which produces coherence. “The hallmark of a system of such coherence is that its parts are correlated in such a way that what happens to one part also happens to the other parts – hence it happens to the system as a whole.”
- Complementarity: Polarity is a basic characteristic of living systems. Opposites balance each other in a state of equilibrium (e.g., yin/yang).
- Recursion: The parts and elements of the whole have similar patterns which repeat each other at successively deeper levels. “Coherent systems are inevitably complex. A higher form of organization in a complex system does not just repeat the structure on the lower levels, but adds novelty, while repeating key patterns that remain invariant.”
- Instability: There are limits to the growth of a coherent system – beyond a critical point, systems become unstable and break down into their individual components.
- Evolution: The evolution of natural systems is towards higher levels of coherence and complexity. “There is a progression from level to level of structure and complexity in nature: from the atomic to the molecular, from the molecular to the multimolecular, from the multimolecular to the cellular and multicellular, and from there to the ecological and bio-spherical.”
Through the action of the above, and other related laws, complexity emerges in the universe as evolution creates more and more complex and coherent atomic, molecular, biological and psychosocial structures and systems.
The self-organization of systems is a recurring feature at all levels of the universe: “The recursive system of self-organization, where every layer curves back on itself to monitor another layer, pervades physics and biology. Self-organization is embedded in the fabric of the cosmos, acting like an invisible, offstage choreographer to drive evolution.” In You Are the Universe, Deepak Chopra and Menas Kafatos discuss this important concept:
In a self-organizing system, each new layer of creation must regulate the prior layer. So, the generation of every layer in the universe, from particle to star to galaxy to black hole, cannot be considered random, given that it was created from a pre-existing layer that in turn was regulating the layer that produced it. The same holds true throughout nature, including the workings of the human body. Cells form tissues, which in turn form organs, the organs form systems, and finally, the entire body has been created. Each layer emerges from the same DNA, but they stack up, as it were, until the pinnacle of achievement, the human brain, crowns it all . . . Whether we are speaking of genes and the brain or solar systems and galaxies, self-organization is present. Existence requires balance, which demands feedback. By monitoring itself, a system can correct imbalances automatically. Every new bit of the universe, however minuscule, must create a feedback loop with what gave rise to it. Otherwise it wouldn’t be connected to the whole. (16)
The building blocks of most systems are based on the principle of hierarchy, which determines the levels of organization and the nature and structure of the interconnections. Each living component possesses its own self-organization and a limited degree of autonomy within the larger system. These systems exist in a hierarchy in which higher levels subsume and regulate lower levels. “Every system does its job, being more or less responsible for its own survival and reproduction (within its niche in the whole organism), at the same time being controlled by one or more superordinate regulatory systems.” Many systems, both natural and manmade, are organized in a hierarchical structure:
Nature appears to be structured as levels of organization or complexity. Elementary particles give rise to atoms, atomic structures form molecules, which in turn form macromolecules such as proteins and DNA, which are the basis for living organelles and cells, which congregate and cooperate to form the profusion of living organisms populating the planet. Evolution, as a progressive complexification of matter and psycho-biotic systems, is ostensibly a dynamic process of ever-increasing levels of complexity and organization. In the sense of nested systems within systems, hierarchy is an accurate and appropriate description of nature . . . If we picture nature’s nested systems as circles within circles within circles, where the boundaries of all the circles are permeable, then hierarchy permits the flow of information and energy both up and down, and laterally, between systems at all levels. Hierarchy involves the communication of information and energy through “upward causation,” from lower-level (meaning less complex) systems to higher level (meaning more complex and organized) systems, and “downward causation,” from higher-level systems to their component parts; as well as horizontal causation (laterally between systems on the same level). In this systems view of hierarchy, power resides in the cooperative relationships between the various systems and their parts. (17)
In summary, the systems view of the universe is essentially holistic and integrative; it looks at the world in terms of interrelatedness and interdependency, linking all levels of existence in a unified whole. “Living systems are organized in such a way that they form multi-leveled structures, each level consisting of subsections which are wholes in regard to their parts, and parts with respect to the larger wholes. All entities – from molecules to human beings – can be regarded as wholes in the sense of being integrated structures, and also as parts of larger wholes at higher levels of complexity.”
Rodger R Ricketts
- Fritjof Capra “The New Vision of Reality: Towards a Synthesis of Eastern Wisdom and Western Science” in Stanislav Grof, ed. Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science (Albany: State University of New York, 1984), pp. 139-140.
- Fritjof Capra The Turning Point (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1982), pp. 266-267.
- Deepak Chopra and Menas Kafatos You Are the Universe (New York: Harmony Books, 2017), pp. 71-72.
- Ervin Laszlo Science and the Reenchantment of the Cosmos (Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions, 2006), pp. 118-119.
The cosmic roots of human nature and our culturally conditioned self‑image
8 JanConclusions: regaining our healthy, complete and harmonious self
Part of human nature is given by Nature; another part comes from society. The
ground of our personality is given by Nature, the construction built upon it is given
by culture. The basic directivity of human nature is towards uplifting life in the
comprehensive and profound context of the Living Universe. Our genuine human
abilities can develop and flourish only in a society establishing their favourable conditions. Our full human potential can be nurtured only in a culture which is in harmony to the cosmic roots of our ontological Self.
In order to live fully with the cosmic roots of our Selves and live the life we are
born into, we need to mobilize all our energies and abilities at all times. Recognising
the cosmic roots of our Self, and appreciating the comprehensive, ontologically
complete and healthy worldview it is possible to win over alienation and regain our
healthy, complete and harmonious Self. We can regain our genuine human nature
implanted into us by the Living Universe.
Attila Grandpierre
No creature can possibly sense everything
16 Dec
No creature could possibly sense everything, and no creature needs to. Evolving according to their owner’s needs, the senses sort through an infinity of stimuli, allowing through only what is relevant. To learn about the rest is a choice. The ability to dip into other Umwelten is our greatest sensory skill. A moth will never know what a zebra finch hears in its song, a zebra finch will never feel the electric buzz of a black ghost knifefish, a knifefish will never see through the eyes of a mantis shrimp, a mantis shrimp will never smell the way a dog can, and a dog will never understand what it is like to be a bat. We will never fully do any of these things either, but we are the only animal that can try. Through patient observation, through the technologies at our disposal, through the scientific method, and, above all else, through our curiosity and imagination, we can try to step into perspectives outside our own. This is a profound gift, which comes with a heavy responsibility. As the only species that can come close to understanding other Umwelten, but also the species most responsible for destroying those sensory realms, it falls on us to marshal all of our empathy and ingenuity to protect other creatures, and their unique ways of experiencing our shared world.
Ed Yong
The Cells of All Living Things have Cytoplasm. All living things are related.
28 Nov
Yes, all living cells, whether they are prokaryotic or eukaryotic, have cytoplasm. Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance that fills the cell and contains all the organelles. It plays a crucial role in cellular functions such as cell division and metabolic processes. Cells are the fundamental units of life. They are the smallest entities capable of performing all the activities necessary for existence: growing, reproducing, responding to the environment, and maintaining homeostasis. They are so tiny that millions can fit on the head of a pin, yet within them are astonishing levels of organization, complexity, and beauty. Evolution of cells refers to the evolutionary origin and subsequent evolutionary development of cells. Cells first emerged at least 3.8 billion years ago, approximately 750 million years after Earth was formed.
A New World View Is Necessary for Sustainability
2 Octby Rodger R Ricketts
When humanity moves past the anthropocentric viewpoint (the idea that “humans are the center of the universe”) existence on Earth will flourish. According to that naive perspective, the value of other living and non-living components of existence is solely determined by how they affect or benefit humans. By learning to value the diversity and interdependence of all life, this oversimplified viewpoint is replaced by a wise spiritual non-dualistic relationship. Humanity can then secure the foundation for a long-term existence in conditions conducive and beneficial to human habitation.
When we attempt to explore the nature of life, we must rise above our ignorant deep-rooted beliefs. The historically dominant way of conceiving life, namely, anthropocentrism is based on ill-founded preconceptions and lead to a range of negative consequences, such as: Environmental destruction and species extinction and human alienation from nature and loss of human well-being.
Such an anthropocentric relationship with nature has predominated since the beginning of the modern era. The dominant worldview of modern thinking is characterized by an objectification of nature, which, by discerning its laws, has made possible the mastery over nature and provision of goods which was previously inconceivable and unparalleled. While mechanistic explanation is an important part of understanding life, it is a just part of the whole story.
The all-consuming self dominates society today in the United States and other modern nations. It has been developed by conscious efforts of businessmen and politicians. For example, in the 1920’s, Wall Street banker Paul Mazura, who invented the public relations profession, said there must be a shift in America from a need to a desires culture. That people must be conditioned to desire to want and buy new things even before the old have entirely been consumed. Human’s desires must overshadow it’s needs. Consumerism is a socio-cultural and economic phenomenon that is typical of industrialized societies. It is characterized by the continuous making and acquisition of goods.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently advanced at a rapid pace, and while there are useful and appropriate applications of AI, modern culture has overlooked our tacit, embodied, living intelligence or wisdom of how we should live in favor of overemphasizing algorithms and other mathematical abstractions. As a result, our ability to understand the world has significantly decreased.
Many people in today’s consumerism-driven society develop an ego or consumer self and lead inauthentic lives. Consumers continue to live their lives under the whims of corporations. Furthermore, rather than learning about the spiritual traditions of cultures, the world’s future generations will be exposed to a materialistic dualistic curriculum, which will make them nihilistic (thinking that life has no purpose and rejecting all moral and spiritual values as well as in political and social institutions).
In the Western World, people often focus on their ego instead of being their true selves. But studies in psychology and spiritual teachings show that being overly focused on the ego is a false belief. Our true selves connect us to nature, but this connection gets hidden by illusions of identity, making us confused about who we really are. This confusion can take away our inspiration and sense of connection, which leads to a lack of original thoughts and happiness. Instead, we end up living in a way that is influenced by companies. Future generations will become even more focused on material things and lose touch with the spiritual traditions of their cultures. As author David Korten says, “We can thrive by pursuing life, or we can fail by chasing money. The choice is ours.”
To be happy and embodied we must learn to let go of our illusion of ourselves. In the end, all the massive efforts invested into social manipulation of humanity can be rejected. All of us, from the spiritual worldview, can discover that we are identical with our cosmic roots and of nature. Humanity is living in a living universe. When we understand that our life instinct is the uplifting creative principle of the universe and become conscious to make our worldview complete and balance, the course of our life can change abandoning alienation. Life organizes itself in systems, in networks, and these living networks are inherently regenerative, creative and intelligent. We have the potential of human creativity that reaches the natural level of happiness by adopting a worldview that emphasizes how to live a happy, meaningful and fulfilling life with the importance of family, human relations, nature and respecting all life. The trajectory of our lives can shift away from alienation when we realize that our life instinct is the universe’s uplifting creative principle and become conscious to make our worldview complete and balanced.
With the non-dualistic view our decision-making ability comes in line with the principle of the life principle that urges us to continuously maintain the fullest physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and rational quality of life. The Life principle is the rule for a profoundly happy and meaningful individual life. As members of the terrestrial community, it is in our nature to do our best for the betterment of life on all levels.
Life is essentially a vital activity, a ceaseless action for fulfilling life’s norms given by the principle of life. The most fundamental fact of our everyday life, mental causality, the ability to act of our own volition and to direct our thinking and acting purposefully, is forced to be denied by the consistent physical view. It binds us in our deepest identity with each other and with Nature. The full appreciation of our deepest, Nature- given identity, that is, of our living nature implies a full appreciation of all forms of life. The principle of life has a cosmic scope. It offers a cosmic principle to guide human behavior. It allows a new, exact scientific understanding of the life instinct. By virtue of our deepest identity, we, as all living beings, tend to act in accordance with the life instinct; however, there can be and there are exceptions, especially in the world of man alienated from himself and from Nature. This alienation is closely linked to the greatest problem of our time, long-term unsustainability (Grandpierre 2022b).
In this respect, the cosmic life instinct can be seen as the source of our natural inclination to live up to our deepest selves and act for the well-being of our individual, communal and social life. A healthy, fulfilling and well-grounded way of life requires a deep understanding of the life principle, its cosmic context and depth, shifting our worldview from a matter-centered to a life-centered approach. Regenerating and preserving the health, well-being and integrity of the natural environment requires acting in accordance with its working principle: the life principle. The most decisive step of sustainability lies in the ranking of our fundamental values according to the primary value of life meant in its individual, communal, social and ecological context. What we really want is not extremely high material wealth but a life rich in fulfilling emotional, intellectual and physical activities. Our deepest identity is rooted in the life principle and our decision-making realizing it. A prerequisite for sustainability is to learn to respect life in its individual, communal, social and cosmic context in a balanced manner. Cosmic life is one; planetary, social, communal, family, individual and cellular life should be harmonious.
In the quest for the ideal of ‘Life for All in Fullness’, it is crucial that technical viability and economic feasibility are not the sole factors in the progress of science. The emphasis should also be placed on improving the living conditions for both people and all life forms, thus preserving the ‘integrity’ of the life principle. On a spiritual level, humans possess a deep connection with all other beings, being ’embedded’ within the fabric of creation, which demands that they honor their fellow creatures. Humans have the ability to recognize and appreciate the inherent will to live that exists in every life form, including plants.
The principle of ‘Life for All in Fullness’, is essential so that technical feasibility and economic practicality are not the only considerations in scientific advancement. Instead, the focus must also encompass the enhancement of living conditions for both humanity and all forms of life, thereby safeguarding the ‘integrity’ of the life principle. Davies concludes that the question “what is life?” will finally be answered by “a fundamentally new kind of organizing principle” Spiritually, humans share a profound connection with all other creatures, being ’embedded’ within creation which necessitates that they respect their fellow beings. Humans can recognize and value the independent will to live inherently found in every form of life, including plants.
This perspective necessitates a transformed understanding of the ecology of earth, leading to altered approaches and actions towards it. The concept of auto telicity, characterized by reverence or respect, applies not only to humans but to all living entities, recognizing the intrinsic value of animals, plants, and even inanimate nature. Therefore, fellow beings should not be regarded—as has often been the case in modern tradition—as mere objects; rather, they ought to be seen as subjects deserving of esteem and protection, with the aim of preserving biodiversity, since humans remain dependent on its ‘community’ with the other beings of nature.
A new understanding of the earth’s ecology is required by this viewpoint, which will result in different methods and behaviors toward it. All living things are subject to the idea of autotelicity, which is defined by the joy and meaning that comes from doing the activity itself, not from an external reward or outcome. It acknowledges the inherent worth of plants, animals, and even inanimate objects. In order to preserve biodiversity, fellow beings should not be viewed as mere objects, as has frequently been the case in modern tradition. Instead, they should be viewed as subjects worthy of respect and protection, as humans continue to rely on their “community” with other natural beings.
Humanity can only fully benefit from material advancements and effectively manage the associated risks if it undergoes a profound transformation in values, mindset, and practices. Merely engaging in ecological initiatives is insufficient; genuine sustainability requires a fundamental shift in our hearts and minds. The prevailing view that nature exists solely for human exploitation and technological control is a core principle driving current industrial progress, which is accelerating at an alarming rate. The challenge lies not just in individual moral failings like greed, but in the broader systemic pressures of modern economies that prioritize capital growth and often pursue limitless expansion.
Most people are pushed in a materialistic way of life and have a worldview which creates a sense of alienation. Our image of ourselves is based on our image of humankind which is based largely on our worldview, therefore, we need to build a worldview on a solid, correct foundation. Nowadays we live in a situation in which we have to change the foundation of our view of reality we have to admit that this is not an everyday situation but one that requires the unusual effort to attain. Now we all have a seemingly solid understanding of reality and it seems all the more solid because most people have the same conviction and it is also reinforced by the dominant physical, materialistic worldview. Moreover, the dominant materialistic view is deeply rooted- centuries old. However, humankind is based on living fundamentally in nature, the nature given by the life instinct that sets the goals, while nature provides the means to achieve them, thus providing a sound basis for a healthy culture.
The fundamental constitutes of nature – life is first and foremost a ceaseless action but also a myriad of possibilities for action that allows it to elevate itself by unfolding and fulfilling its highest potential. Modern society has been unable to take into account this part of reality without which life would not exist and would not be possible -namely the instinct for life. It is therefore immensely important that it becomes understood both scientifically and philosophically that life is more than only about survival. Instead, the life principle tells us that life is to be directed towards a high quality of life. Life is primarily directed towards feeling ourselves well, high above the level of mere survival and this ensures the prospects to feel ourselves well or better. Our feelings are essential to our quality of life. We conceive our quality of life by our natural instinctive feelings. Above all life is about feeling good individually and more importantly in our relationship with our families, our social communities, and nature.
The life principle is the principle of beneficial feelings, the dignity of life is for every living being. As a natural given right to feel itself well, to feel good in the present and good or better in the future. To be respected fully to the greatest extent. This life principle that is the treasure of the universe, the source of all value is present within us. It is the treasure of our life and we are naturally inclined to pay attention, nourish and care for this cosmic treasure in all its manifestations. We are most fundamentally and most personally interwoven with each other and with other living beings through the life principle. That is why if we appreciate the life instincts, we will appreciate the same life instinct in all manifestations. This recognition is the basis and essence of an environmental philosophy that values living communities. In fact, without biological laws, life necessarily would become an appendage of matter. It would lose it’s dignity and intrinsic nature if we have to recognize the reality of the life principle.
Life has an autonomous reality having its own characteristics, following its own values, and its own possibilities are different than those of a materialistic society. For science, this is a fact that has its own independent principle – the life principle. This worldview assumes that cosmic life is eternal. The materialistic view cannot come into existence by itself only. Fundamental reality acts within us from the aspect of our self, defined as our decision making center. It is the life instinct. The life principle is both imminent and transcendent since we have an access to the life instinct internally and that is transcendent since it goes beyond the observable universe. The life instincts of living organisms and of the living universe are identical. The casual order of life, the first cause acts as the cosmic level. In this case an eternal energy, that we cannot name, is a first cause and time in a logical sense since the living universe is primal being itself. We can, in the logical sense, regard this as the First Division, that the world of reason is the first step. The realization of Anthropocene, the current geological age, is viewed as the period during which human activity became the dominant influence on climate and the environment and it is no longer possible – as in previous eras – to distinguish sharply between cultural and natural phenomena. Some geologists argue that the Anthropocene began with the Industrial Revolution.
To ensure a sustainable future, humanity must move beyond an anthropocentric, dualistic viewpoint and awaken to non-dualism with which one recognizes the intrinsic value of all forms of life. This shift, that reveals a respectful relationship with the Giai, is essential for securing a viable environment for future generations.
Physician and Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer advocated the necessity of mindfully offering to every living being a reverence for life. This ethic makes no distinction between more valuable and less valuable, higher and lower life. Through the ethics of reverence for life we enter into a spiritual relation with this world. Good is understood as the means to preserve and promote life, raising life to develop to its highest value. Evil, then, means harming or destroying life, making it incapable of developing. This is a basic principle necessary for ethical thinking for any form of enhancement of specific life forms.
Neurobiology of Transformation
30 SepDr. Shiv D. Talwar is a founding member of Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc. He also has served on its Board of Directors as its president since its very inception in year 2000. Shiv’s work is intended to be used for raising consciousness for the care of each other and that of the planet on which we live. Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc. (SHEN) partners with Ubiquity University to offer degree programs in the Neurobiology of Transformation. While Ubiquity is a global university for inner and outer regeneration, science-based education which transforms the whole person, is the purpose of SHEN’s existence.
https://copilot.microsoft.com/shares/podcasts/LABSJgHC2yvhHUmBtCLFm
“Quantum jazz”
29 Sep
The Biological Origin of “Self”
‘The body is a quantum coherent organism which creates and recreate herself from moment to moment.” Mae -Wan Ho likes to call this process “Quantum jazz”, which is the music of the organism dancing life into being. She goes on to write that: “Quantum jazz is played out by the whole organism, in every nerve and sinew, every muscle, every single cell, molecule, atom, and elementary particle, a light and sound display that spans seventy octaves in all the colors of the rainbow. There is no conductor or choreographer. Quantum jazz is written while it is being performed; each gesture, each phrase is new, shaped by what has gone before, though not quite. The organism never ceases to experience her environment, taking it in (entangling it) for future reference, modifying her liquid crystalline matrix and neural circuits, recoding and rewriting her genes. Quantum coherence is the ‘I’ in everyone that gives unity to conscious experience.”
As we can see from these examples of a new understanding about the significance of biological regulation and coherence of the organism, the previously intuitive construct of the “Cartesian Theater” in the brain, wherein the self sits as a spectator on the world and self acts as the CEO executive of all decision making, is exposed as an illusion. Clearly, the biologically based core functions of organization, selectivity, and coherence are necessary for organism survival. The abstracted cognitive embellishments serve as relative, convenient designations or identifications, which constructs a virtual presence of the ‘self’ illusion, and is based in ignorance, and through steadfast identification creates craving and suffering. Only now are we able to empirically support the Buddha’s insights of ‘anatta or no-self’ which he gained through the introspective practice of bhavana, or meditation.
Excerpt from Chapter 8 – The Garden of Eden- In this Life – Relative Truths
24 SepOther living species such as flowers have striking leaf patterns visible only in
the ultraviolet range of the spectrum, something that can only attract the attention of their pollinators, such as bees. A consequence of perceptual relativity and the observer-dependent universe is the realization that human’s worldview comprehends relatively little of what is available; hence, claimed hu
man knowledge and awareness of the external world and universe should be approached with guidance. In fact, individually, at any one moment, we each know a very small amount of our humanity’s total knowledge and our species knows very little of how the universe really is.
Our sensory apparatus was designed by evolution to help us in our everyday lives, enabling us to survive and thrive in our environment, but it is not designed to help us understand the complexity of the universe. None of us can know any absolute truths; our human minds are by their accustomed finite subject-object relationships in relativity. The best we can do is know many relative truths, some being much better relative truths than others.While relative certainty and wisdom are necessary for us in our everyday lives, ultimately, the fact that no human can know an absolute truth should lead
people to accept that uncertainty is a natural response to this lack of knowledge.
We are all Interconnected even with the Universe 