WESTERN IDEALISM AND ADVAITA
Obs of a Prnnl Lrnr Obsrvr who happens to be a dctr There is no cure for curiosity-D Parker
Saturday, 31 August 2024
Suffering. Everything is okay. Open up. Let go. Move on.
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SAGAN
“It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English – up to fifty words used in correct context – no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese.”
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O, Sadhu! The one form pervades all.
There is no difference between one drop and another;
The sea and the drop are one. Sea in the drop and the sea as the drop,
This is the truth.
Behind the drop the sea extends,
The sea supports the drop.
To make the drop realise the ocean
Is all the Reality. — Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh
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Karma. RS
Karma is riverlike thoughts chain where you live out of past (memories)…and human past was evolutionary.. which means we carry lot of prejudices and superstitions..look at your past memories..look again you will find that most of your past memories are grudges and complaints..every negative thought takes lot of memory of your consciousness..and then you are left with very little energy that too you consume in thinking about future..now in the end of day you miss life which is here and now..
Forgiveness disconnects you from past..forgiveness sets you free from past..but forgiveness has to be understood first…
You need to start with yourself..first person you should forgive should be you…you are always condemned by society, religion to exploit you..deep down you have lot of resentment about yourself..out of your ignorance…you blame your parents…next you should forgive your parents..you stop playing victim card…understand your parents are not enlightened beings…next forgive all the people who you think did wrong to you…whosoever…
Now your course in forgiveness is complete…
Go into the world and live life of freedom
Lyf is discovery. Open to all possibilities
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The Other Side of Happiness: Embracing a More Fearless Approach to Living
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Universe is probabilistic. Not all deterministic
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If you stop to consider the happiest moments in your life, they are usually experienced on a knife-edge between pleasure and pain. Whether it be finding your true love, holding your newborn baby for the first time, or a great professional achievement, all of these moments of happiness are couched in the potential for suffering, loss or failure. Love is a powerful experience because it makes us vulnerable; grand achievements are only grand because those who achieve them risk humiliation; and holding your newborn in your arms for the first time occurs in the context of great insecurity, anxiety and pain. If we eradicate the possibility of pain, loss or failure, we eradicate joy and strip these experiences of any kind of lasting meaning.
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Meditation. To see wood from tree
Shut off all data to receive better next time
Best photography in 1st 2 days in new place
2 songs written on 2 days of new guitar
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The Origin of Species was first published in 1859. Seven years later, an obscure
monk, Gregor Mendel, published an obscure paper on inheritance in peas that
was not widely noticed until 1900, when it became the foundation of the modern science of genetics. Since then, genetic knowledge has become the chief
framework for describing the processes of evolution within species. This
framework, expressed in both words and equations, describes the factors that
cause genetic changes in species. In the simplest terms: a new version of a gene
(an allele) comes into existence by mutation (usually a change of one of the
units of a DNA sequence). At first it is very rare—only one or a few individuals
carry the allele. If this allele alters a characteristic in such a way as to increase
an individual’s chance of survival or reproduction, it is said to be naturally selected and may become more common because such individuals survive or
reproduce more than those that lack the allele and the advantageous feature.
Perhaps the allele entirely replaces the original form of the gene (the new allele
is fixed), and the population as a whole has a somewhat altered phenotype (i.e.,
characteristic: shorter legs, differently colored bill, different display behavior—whatever feature the gene affects).
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Dinosaurs aren’t just big, fearsome reptiles; they are a particular clade
(branch) of archosaur reptiles that arose in the early Triassic period, about 240
Ma, and which also include extinct and living crocodiles. (So, crocodiles are
the closest living relatives of birds.) And not all dinosaurs were big (or very
fearsome): some were smaller than chickens
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The most common basis for evolving altruistic behavior is helping relatives.
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Neti neti
Turtle to fish
Not wet mud
Not sea kelp
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One of the triumphant implications of Maxwell’s theory was an
understanding of the nature of light. Rather than a distinct kind of
substance, light is a propagating wave in the electric and magnetic fields,
also known as electromagnetic radiation. We think of electromagnetism as
a “force,” and it is, but Maxwell taught us that fields carrying forces can
vibrate, and in the case of electric and magnetic fields those vibrations are
what we perceive as light. The quanta of light are particles called photons,
so we will sometimes say “photons carry the electromagnetic force.” But at
the moment we’re still thinking classically
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Although a small fraction of nonsynonymous mutations are advantageous
or neutral, many are harmful: they impair protein function, often affect physiological or morphological characteristcs, and reduce individuals’ survival or
reproduction. For this reason, they tend not to persist in species populations,
and so genes evolve more slowly by nonsynonymous mutations than by synonymous substitutions. The genome also has a lot of noncoding DNA, some
of which appears to be nonfunctional and which also evolves rapidly, like synonymous mutations, by genetic drift. These differences are important for
phylogenetic studies because rapidly evolving parts of the genome provide
information on relationships among species that diverged over a short time
interval in the recent past. (I mean “short” and “recent” by geological standards, namely hundreds of thousands of years!).
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Friday, 30 August 2024
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Whatever you’re feeling, it will eventually pass. You won’t feel sad forever. At some point, you will feel happy again. You won’t feel anxious forever. In time, you will feel calm again. You don’t have to fight your feelings or feel guilty for having them. You just have to accept them and be good to yourself while you ride this out. Resisting your emotions and shaming yourself will only cause you more pain, and you don’t deserve that. You deserve your own love, acceptance, and compassion.” ~Lori Deschene
FF QNTM PANPSYCHISM
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“In the end
these things matter most:
How well did you love?
How fully did you live?
How deeply did you let go?”
― Jack Kornfield, Buddha's Little Instruction Book
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Shannon's informational entropy is the number of binary digits required to encode a message
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Each chakra is a camp where we experience a particular condition, such as contentment, peace, awe, surrender, or belonging. The condition is inherent to the level of consciousness at that chakra. In time, that level of consciousness becomes the new normal for us, showing up in the qualities we exhibit in our behavior
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FF TO KNOW IS TO EXIST
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PAIN-INDUCED ANALGESIA Stressful, effortful or unpleasant qualities of a stimulus activate the release of dopamine and opioids in the brain, which in turn can lead to the experience of pleasure or even euphoria when the negative event ceases, but this is not the primary reason for the neurochemical response. Rather, the brain responds in this way because both opioids and dopamine help us to cope with, and respond to, pain. On the one hand, opioids funnction as a natural analgesic; they are like the brain’s own fast-acting paracetamol. This is why people often do not feel the discomfort of an injury straight away. When we graze a knee or break a leg, our brain is flooded with these neurochemicals and they camouflage our experience of pain. It is often only afterwards that we start to realize how much it hurts. This same response can be observed in other negative events, such as social stress. On the other hand, although dopamine may also have an analgesic function, more recent research suggests it responds to the threat of discomfort or unpleasantness by facilitating effective decision-making. Specifically, it helps us to decide whether to continue to endure the unpleasant event (perhaps in order to get a reward) or to withdraw and escape (perhaps in order to prevent greater loss, such as an injury).
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TREE V CAR
INTEGRAL V SYNTHETIC UNITY
FF X NO OBJECTIVE REALITY X OBJECTIVITY IS NOT AN OBJECT
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ChatGPT said:
Western Idealism and Advaita Vedanta are both philosophical traditions that explore the nature of reality, consciousness, and the self. While they arise from different cultural contexts—Western Idealism primarily from European thought and Advaita Vedanta from Indian philosophy—they share some conceptual similarities and differences.
1. Western Idealism
Western Idealism is a philosophical tradition that holds that reality is fundamentally mental or immaterial. It argues that the external world, as we perceive it, is dependent on the mind or consciousness. The primary thinkers associated with Western Idealism include:
- Plato: Often considered one of the earliest idealists, Plato posited the existence of a realm of perfect, abstract Forms or Ideas, which are more real than the physical world.
- Immanuel Kant: Though not an idealist in the strictest sense, Kant's "transcendental idealism" suggests that our knowledge of the external world is mediated by the mind's structures, such as space and time, which shape our experience.
- George Berkeley: A key figure in subjective idealism, Berkeley famously argued that "to be is to be perceived" (esse est percipi), asserting that the existence of objects depends on being perceived by a mind.
- G.W.F. Hegel: Developed a more complex form of idealism known as "absolute idealism," where reality is seen as a process of the self-realization of Spirit (Geist), culminating in a unity of thought and being.
2. Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta is a school of Indian philosophy that teaches non-dualism, emphasizing the oneness of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). Key concepts and thinkers in Advaita include:
- Shankara (Adi Shankaracharya): The foremost proponent of Advaita Vedanta, Shankara argued that the apparent multiplicity of the world is an illusion (Maya), and the true reality is the non-dual, unchanging Brahman.
- Brahman: In Advaita, Brahman is the ultimate, infinite, and formless reality that underlies all existence. It is beyond time, space, and causation.
- Atman: The individual self or soul, which in Advaita is ultimately identical to Brahman. The realization of this identity is the goal of spiritual practice.
- Maya: The illusion or ignorance that makes the world appear as separate and diverse, veiling the true unity of Brahman.
3. Key Similarities
- Primacy of Consciousness: Both Western Idealism and Advaita Vedanta place consciousness or mind at the center of their metaphysical systems. In Idealism, reality is often seen as a manifestation or construct of the mind, while in Advaita, consciousness (Atman/Brahman) is the only true reality, with the material world being illusory.
- Skepticism about Materialism: Both traditions challenge the notion that the material world is the ultimate reality. Idealists argue that what we consider the "external world" is dependent on the mind, while Advaita Vedanta asserts that the world of forms and phenomena is a product of Maya (illusion).
- Unity of Reality: Both traditions advocate for a form of unity. Western Idealists, especially in the Hegelian tradition, seek a synthesis of opposites in a unified absolute. Advaita, on the other hand, posits that the diversity of the world is ultimately non-different from Brahman.
4. Key Differences
- Ontological Foundation: In Western Idealism, particularly in the subjective forms like Berkeley's, the mind or consciousness plays a foundational role in the existence of the world. In Advaita Vedanta, however, the individual mind (Manas) is also part of the illusory world, and the ultimate reality is not just mind, but Brahman, which transcends both mind and matter.
- Epistemology: Western Idealists often engage with the question of how we know the world and how our knowledge shapes reality. In contrast, Advaita Vedanta focuses more on self-realization and the transcendence of dualistic knowledge, emphasizing direct experiential knowledge (Jnana) of the non-dual Brahman.
- Goal of Philosophy: For Western Idealists, especially in the German tradition, philosophy is often a means of understanding the rational structure of reality. In Advaita Vedanta, the goal is liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of birth and death through the realization of the oneness of Atman and Brahman.
5. Influence and Dialogue
There has been some cross-pollination between Western Idealism and Indian philosophy, especially during the 19th and 20th centuries. German Idealists like Schopenhauer were deeply influenced by Indian thought, particularly the Upanishads and Vedanta. Later thinkers, like Aldous Huxley and even contemporary philosophers, have explored the parallels between these traditions.
Conclusion
While Western Idealism and Advaita Vedanta differ in their cultural contexts and specific philosophical concerns, they share a common interest in the primacy of consciousness and the ultimate nature of reality. Their approaches to understanding reality—whether through the lens of the mind or through the realization of non-duality—offer rich insights into the nature of existence and the self.
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Not all toxic people are cruel and uncaring. Some of them love us dearly. Many of them have good intentions. Most are toxic to our being simply because their needs and way of existing in the world force us to compromise ourselves and our happiness. They aren’t inherently bad people, but they aren’t the right people for us.” ~Daniell Koepke
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The absence of pleocytosis (an elevated white blood cell count) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) does not exclude an infectious cause of encephalitis. While pleocytosis is a common finding in many cases of infectious encephalitis, there are several situations where an infection may still be present despite a normal or even low white blood cell count in the CSF.
Key Points:
Viral Encephalitis:
- Certain viral infections, such as those caused by arboviruses (e.g., West Nile virus) or early stages of herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis, may present with minimal or no pleocytosis in the CSF.
- In immunocompromised individuals, such as those with HIV or on immunosuppressive therapy, viral encephalitis might also present with normal CSF white cell counts.
Early Infection:
- In the early stages of an infection, pleocytosis may not yet be evident. The inflammatory response that leads to an increase in white blood cells in the CSF can take time to develop.
Atypical Presentations:
- Some infections, like those caused by certain bacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis) or fungi (e.g., Cryptococcus), might not cause significant pleocytosis, especially in immunocompromised patients.
- In some cases of viral encephalitis, such as those caused by the mumps virus, pleocytosis may be absent despite significant infection.
Immunosuppression:
- As mentioned, patients who are immunocompromised (due to conditions like HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, or organ transplantation) may not mount a typical immune response, resulting in a lack of pleocytosis even in the presence of an infection.
Differential Diagnosis:
- It's important to consider other diagnostic criteria, such as clinical presentation, neuroimaging, PCR testing for specific pathogens, and other CSF parameters (e.g., protein levels, glucose levels) when evaluating a patient for encephalitis.
- A lack of pleocytosis does not rule out an infectious cause, and additional tests, including PCR for viral DNA/RNA or cultures, may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Conclusion:
While pleocytosis in the CSF is often associated with infectious encephalitis, its absence does not exclude the possibility of an infectious cause. Clinicians should consider the overall clinical context, including patient history, symptoms, and additional diagnostic tests, when evaluating a case of suspected encephalitis.
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FF X STILL THE FIELD WHEN BDY DROPS
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Seery and his colleagues wanted to explore this relationship further. They were interested in whether adverse experiences might not only make people tougher, but could also make them happier. To examine this, they again used their measure of cumulative lifetime adversity, incorporating thirtyseven life experiences including death, injury and abuse (as described above), and examined whether it might show a similar U-shaped relationship with well-being.12 The researchers reasoned that a moderate amount of lifetime adversity, as compared to no lifetime adversity or high levels of adversity, would be most likely to foster toughness and mastery of life, and this in turn would facilitate the highest levels of well-being. This reasoning is consistent with past research showing that overwhelming levels of adversity reduce one’s ability to manage stress in life. This means that stressful experiences do not foster a sense of mastery, and in turn resilience to these experiences is never developed. On the other hand, being sheltered from adverse experiences in life temporarily protects against distress, but also provides no opportunity to develop toughness and mastery. Those who have been sheltered from adversity, or who have been overwhelmed by it, are less able to cope with the inevitable stresses and challenges that life presents. This in turn means that these individuals would be less likely to experience high levels of well-being.
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zen
Sensei José Shinzan Palma writes, “It’s not just about crossing our legs and sitting on a cushion or mat, it’s about the quality of our state of mind—a quality of being connected with life. I define this practice in terms of aligning our body, our mind, our breath, and this moment. When we have aligned these four points—when we are present, here and now, meeting life as it is—this is zazen practice.”
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FF X MATTER AND SPIRIT ARE INSEPARABLE
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Consciousness is the ability to experience through qualia and know the meaning of the experience.
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FF - ALL I KNOW IS IN THE PAST
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CONSC ENTITIES LIKE LEIBNIZ MONADS
AWhat are Leibniz monad's?
- Simple monads. The bodies of all matter. Some type of unconscious and unorganized perception. ...
- Sentient monads. Present in all living organisms, but not in inorganic material. ...
- Rational monads. Corresponded to the conscious minds of humans. ...
- Supreme monad. Controlled and motivated by all other monads.
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FF X QNTUM X PROBABILITY X ONLY CONSC WANTS TO PREDICT FUTURE
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The great thing, as everybody knows who lives through what you think you can’t live through, is you turn around and there are millions and millions of other people there—the billions of people who have lived through unendurable loss.
Marie Howe, “The Space Between”
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A BRAHMAN THE PUPETEER
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“the ontology of information,” characterized by the phrase “software without hardware,” “which perhaps is very close to what you call ontology of semantics, which I believe you mean that it also involves the ‘observer,’ i.e., the ‘puppeteer.”’
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INTERIORITY EXPERIENCE X MYSTIC X MEDITATIVE
STHITAPRAGYA V STOICISM
Stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy, and the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text, share several philosophical similarities despite originating from different cultural and religious contexts. Both offer guidance on how to live a virtuous and fulfilling life, with a focus on inner peace, self-control, and duty. Here are some of the key similarities:
1. Emphasis on Duty (Dharma/Prohairesis)
- Bhagavad Gita: The Gita emphasizes the concept of dharma, or duty. Krishna advises Arjuna to perform his duty as a warrior without attachment to the results, emphasizing that one must fulfill their responsibilities according to their role in society.
- Stoicism: Stoicism similarly emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one’s role or duty (prohairesis). Stoics believe that living in accordance with nature and reason involves accepting and performing one's duties, regardless of external circumstances.
2. Detachment from Outcomes
- Bhagavad Gita: Krishna teaches the principle of Karma Yoga, where one acts without attachment to the fruits of their actions. The focus is on performing one's duty without being emotionally affected by success or failure.
- Stoicism: Stoics advocate for detachment from external outcomes. They believe that one should focus on what is within their control—namely, their own thoughts, actions, and responses—while accepting whatever results may come as indifferent to their inner peace.
3. Control of Emotions
- Bhagavad Gita: Krishna advises Arjuna to control his emotions and remain steadfast, even in the face of adversity. This aligns with the concept of equanimity, where one maintains calmness and balance in all situations.
- Stoicism: Stoicism places great emphasis on mastering one’s emotions through rationality and virtue. Stoics aim to achieve apatheia (freedom from passion), which involves not letting emotions like anger, fear, or desire disturb the tranquility of the mind.
4. Acceptance of Fate
- Bhagavad Gita: The Gita encourages acceptance of the divine will or cosmic order. Krishna teaches that everything happens according to a higher plan, and one should trust in this order while performing their duties.
- Stoicism: Stoicism advocates for the acceptance of fate or amor fati—the love of fate. Stoics believe that everything happens according to nature’s rational order, and accepting this with grace is key to inner peace.
5. Inner Peace and Self-Realization
- Bhagavad Gita: The Gita’s teachings aim at self-realization and union with the divine. By following the path of duty, devotion, and knowledge, one can achieve moksha or liberation, which is a state of eternal peace and bliss.
- Stoicism: Stoicism seeks to cultivate ataraxia (inner peace) through the practice of virtue and wisdom. By living in harmony with reason and nature, one can achieve a state of tranquility and contentment.
6. Living in Accordance with Nature
- Bhagavad Gita: The Gita encourages living in harmony with one’s true nature and the natural order of the universe. This includes performing one’s svadharma (individual duty) without deviation.
- Stoicism: Stoics also believe in living in accordance with nature, which they equate with living in harmony with reason and the universe. This involves understanding and accepting the natural laws that govern the world.
7. Virtue as the Highest Good
- Bhagavad Gita: The Gita considers virtue, or righteousness (dharma), as central to spiritual progress. By adhering to virtuous conduct, one can attain spiritual liberation.
- Stoicism: Stoicism holds that virtue is the only true good and that everything else (wealth, health, pleasure) is secondary. Living a virtuous life leads to true happiness and fulfillment.
Conclusion
Both Stoicism and the Bhagavad Gita provide profound philosophical guidance on how to live a life of purpose, peace, and virtue. They teach the importance of duty, detachment, control over emotions, and acceptance of life's circumstances. Despite their cultural differences, both philosophies converge on the idea that true happiness and fulfillment come from within, through the practice of wisdom, self-discipline, and alignment with the greater order of life.
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SAT CHIT ANANDA X LOVE JOY PEACE
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People commonly seek out meditative or mindful states through quiet reflection, yet threat-signalling experiences provide an alternate, albeit more brutal, route. Like a short-cut to mindfulness, they instantly draw us into a singular focus. It is due to the capacity of such experiences to command attention, to remove awareness of complex thought, and to reduce higher-order reflection on the self that they are often experienced as providing a form of enlightenment or spiritual transcendence. If you consider the various practices that are thought to provide spiritual enlightenment, they all have these qualities in common. Beyond the various rituals detailed above, people also engage in meditative prayer, chanting, singing or dancing to achieve a sense of spiritual transcendence. These acts, through repetition, fix one’s mind on a singular thing, and limit the potential for distraction.
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"If you want to stay young-looking, pick your parents very carefully." ~ Dick Clark
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our pleasures will rarely kill us but our pains just might.
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DTH X PERSONAL ASHES X WHEN SNUFFED IT X LOSW X GETTING SAM HOME
DRIP DRIP WORRY FEAR
Along the way, a healthy mind keeps a judicious grip on the drip, drip, drip of fear. It knows that, in theory, there is an endless number of things that we could worry about: A blood vessel might fail, a scandal might erupt, the plane’s engines could sheer from its wings . . . But it has a good sense of the distinction between what could conceivably happen and what is in fact likely to happen, and so it is able to leave us in peace as regards the wilder eventualities of fate, confident that awful things will either not unfold or could be dealt with ably enough if ever they did so. A healthy mind avoids catastrophic imaginings: It knows that there are broad and stable stone steps, not a steep and slippery incline, between itself and disaster.
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Labah. Biswaroop darshan
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7 CHAKRAS
One way of looking at chakras is to treat them as we do the longitudes and latitudes on a map. We don’t see the lines, but we can pinpoint a physical location using the coordinates. Similarly, chakras are energetic entities in the spiritual anatomy, and we can locate their positions on the physical frame. The most general consensus is that that there are seven chakra
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And whether we speak of "salvation" in the West, of "liberation," or mukti, in the East, whether we speak of paradise or ending the cycle of rebirths, makes little difference, since ultimately the common goal is to "get out.
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When we are aware of our weaknesses or negative tendencies, we open the opportunity to work on them.” ~Allan Looks
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Feelings come and go, awareness remains as is
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"The Nasty Neighbour Effect: Forget Strangers, Your Worst Enemy Lives Next Door" explores a phenomenon where conflicts and tensions with neighbors escalate, often causing more stress and distress than disputes with strangers. This concept highlights how proximity and daily interactions can turn small issues into significant problems, affecting mental well-being and quality of life.
Key Aspects of the Nasty Neighbour Effect:
Proximity Breeds Conflict: Unlike strangers, neighbors share common spaces, routines, and boundaries. Minor annoyances, such as noise, parking disputes, or property boundaries, can quickly escalate when they are repeated daily.
Lack of Escape: Neighbors are difficult to avoid. Even if you don’t get along, you are often forced to see them or deal with their behavior regularly. This constant exposure can make small irritations feel overwhelming.
Impact on Mental Health: Living in close proximity to a difficult neighbor can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and even depression. The feeling of being trapped in an ongoing conflict without an easy resolution can be exhausting.
Social Tension: Neighborly disputes can spill over into broader social networks, leading to neighborhood divisions, strained community relations, and a sense of isolation for those involved.
Legal and Financial Costs: Some neighbor disputes escalate to the point of legal action, resulting in financial burdens and prolonged stress. Property values can also be affected if a neighborhood becomes known for conflicts.
Solutions and Coping Strategies:
- Communication: Often, misunderstandings fuel neighbor disputes. Open, respectful communication can help resolve issues before they become bigger problems.
- Mediation: Involving a neutral third party, like a community mediator, can help both sides find a resolution without escalating the conflict.
- Setting Boundaries: Clearly defined property lines, rules, and expectations can prevent many common disputes from arising.
- Legal Action as a Last Resort: While some situations may require legal intervention, it's typically better to try resolving disputes through dialogue and mediation first.
This effect emphasizes that the closer people live to one another, the more vital it is to maintain good relationships and communication. A peaceful living environment significantly impacts overall happiness, so managing these relationships is crucial.
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TUCHITRA TEN
Aplacebo
In order to better understand the placebo effect, researchers have begun to study it on its own terms. In one study, researchers from Oxford University administered a potent opioid analgesic (remifentanil) to volunteers while they were exposed to thermal pain (heat).14 This took place in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner so the researchers could examine neural responses while the volunteers rated the intensity of the pain and their feelings of anxiety with regard to it. At the beginning of the study, the experimenters first exposed the volunteers to the thermal pain while they delivered a saline solution through a needle in their arm. This provided a ‘baseline condition’ to measure against. On the next trial volunteers were told that they would be administered an opioid analgesic, when in fact they were still receiving the saline solution. This was the ‘no expectation condition’. In the next trial, they were administered the opioid analgesic, but this time they were told they were being given a particularly effective drug. This was the ‘positive expectation condition’. On the last trial they were given the same analgesic, but told they were being administered a particularly ineffective drug. This was the ‘negative expectation condition’. Results showed that while the opioid analgesic reduced pain even when participants had no expectations of its effectiveness (that is when they instead thought they were receiving a saline solution), its analgesic benefits doubled when they expected it to be effective. Just so, when they expected it to be ineffective, the analgesic benefits of the drug were completely abolished; it was no more effective than the saline solution when they were expecting just that.
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The placebo effect is a fascinating psychological phenomenon where a person experiences a real change in their health or symptoms after receiving a treatment with no active therapeutic ingredient. This effect is strongly influenced by the individual's expectations—whether they believe the treatment will work (positive expectation) or not (negative expectation).
Positive Expectation (Placebo Effect):
- Definition: When a person believes that a treatment will have a beneficial effect, their positive expectation can lead to real improvements in their symptoms, even if the treatment is inactive or a "placebo."
- Mechanism:
- Psychological Influence: The belief in the treatment's efficacy can activate the brain's reward systems, releasing neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins, which can reduce pain and improve mood.
- Physiological Responses: Positive expectations can also influence physiological processes, such as immune responses or hormone levels, contributing to actual health improvements.
- Examples:
- A person taking a sugar pill, believing it's a powerful painkiller, may experience a significant reduction in pain.
- Patients who expect a treatment to help with anxiety or depression may report feeling better after receiving a placebo, thanks to the positive anticipation.
Negative Expectation (Nocebo Effect):
- Definition: When a person expects a treatment to have harmful or no effects, this negative expectation can lead to the experience of adverse symptoms or a lack of improvement, even when the treatment is inactive.
- Mechanism:
- Psychological Influence: Negative expectations can trigger stress and anxiety, leading to the release of stress hormones like cortisol, which can exacerbate symptoms or create new ones.
- Physiological Responses: Negative expectations can cause real physical symptoms, such as increased pain, headaches, nausea, or fatigue, even if the treatment is inert.
- Examples:
- A person taking a placebo but believing it will cause side effects may experience headaches, nausea, or other symptoms, purely due to the expectation of harm.
- Patients who believe a treatment will not work may experience no improvement in their condition, even if the treatment is designed to be effective.
Key Differences Between Positive and Negative Expectations:
- Positive Expectation: Can lead to beneficial outcomes, improvements in symptoms, and overall well-being, even in the absence of an active treatment.
- Negative Expectation: Can lead to worsening symptoms, the development of new symptoms, or no improvement, driven purely by the belief that the treatment will not help or might cause harm.
Clinical Implications:
Importance of Communication: How healthcare providers communicate about a treatment can significantly influence patient expectations. Positive, reassuring language can enhance the placebo effect, while negative or uncertain communication can trigger the nocebo effect.
Ethical Considerations: While harnessing the placebo effect can be beneficial, it's important to do so ethically. Deceiving patients about the nature of their treatment is generally considered unethical. However, promoting a positive outlook and building trust can enhance treatment outcomes.
Tailoring Treatment Approaches: Understanding a patient's expectations can help in tailoring treatment approaches. Addressing fears and negative expectations upfront can reduce the likelihood of a nocebo response.
Conclusion:
The power of expectation plays a critical role in the placebo and nocebo effects. Positive expectations can lead to real therapeutic benefits, even when the treatment is inactive, while negative expectations can result in real harm or lack of improvement. This highlights the importance of the psychological and emotional dimensions of healthcare, as well as the need for careful, empathetic communication between healthcare providers and patients.
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PLACEBOME
The placebome is a term used to describe the complex network of biological systems, pathways, and genetic factors that influence an individual's response to placebo treatments. It represents the intersection of genetics, molecular biology, and the placebo effect, exploring how certain genetic and biological markers can predict or modulate the strength and nature of the placebo response in individuals.
Key Concepts of the Placebome:
Genetic Influence on Placebo Response:
- Research has shown that certain genetic variations can influence how strongly a person responds to a placebo. For example:
- COMT Gene: Variations in the COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene, which is involved in dopamine metabolism, have been linked to differences in placebo response, particularly in pain perception.
- 5-HTTLPR Gene: This gene, which influences serotonin transport, has also been associated with differences in placebo responses, especially in conditions like depression and anxiety.
- Research has shown that certain genetic variations can influence how strongly a person responds to a placebo. For example:
Neurobiological Pathways:
- The placebo effect is mediated by several neurobiological pathways, involving neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, as well as the brain's reward system. The placebome concept explores how these pathways interact with genetic factors to produce placebo responses.
Epigenetics and Placebo Response:
- Epigenetic changes, which involve modifications in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, may also play a role in modulating the placebo effect. Environmental factors, stress, and life experiences can influence epigenetic marks, which in turn may affect how an individual responds to placebo treatments.
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms:
- Beyond genetics, the placebome encompasses the broader molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the placebo response. This includes signaling pathways, receptor activity, and immune system interactions that can contribute to the physiological effects observed in placebo responders.
Predictive Biomarkers:
- The identification of biomarkers (biological indicators) that predict placebo response is a key area of research within the placebome. These biomarkers could help in understanding who is more likely to benefit from placebo effects and could be used to tailor treatments in clinical settings.
Clinical Implications:
Personalized Medicine:
- Understanding the placebome could lead to more personalized approaches in medicine, where treatments are tailored based on an individual's genetic and biological predisposition to placebo responses. This could enhance the effectiveness of treatments by leveraging the placebo effect.
Drug Development and Clinical Trials:
- The placebome has significant implications for clinical trials, where placebo responses can sometimes confound results. By understanding the genetic and biological factors that contribute to placebo responses, researchers can design better trials and interpret data more accurately.
Ethical Considerations:
- While leveraging the placebo effect in treatment could be beneficial, it raises ethical questions about transparency and informed consent. Understanding the placebome could help balance the use of placebo effects with ethical standards in medical practice.
Challenges and Future Directions:
Complexity of the Placebome:
- The placebome is highly complex, involving a vast array of genetic, molecular, and environmental factors. Mapping and understanding these interactions is an ongoing challenge for researchers.
Inter-individual Variability:
- There is significant variability in how different individuals respond to placebos, making it difficult to generalize findings. More research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to this variability.
Integration with Other Omics:
- The placebome is part of a broader effort to integrate various "omics" fields (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) to create a more comprehensive understanding of human biology and health.
Conclusion:
The placebome represents a cutting-edge area of research that explores the genetic and biological underpinnings of the placebo effect. By understanding how these factors influence placebo responses, the placebome has the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine, improve the design of clinical trials, and deepen our understanding of the mind-body connection in health and disease.
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GENETICS X PLACEBOME
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1942. Nuclear reactor 1st. Fermi. Chicago
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According to Brock Bastian, author of The Other Side of Happiness: Embracing a More Fearless Approach to Living (2018) and a psychologist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, the problem is partly cultural: a person living in a Western country is four to 10 times more likely to experience clinical depression or anxiety in a lifetime than an individual living in an Eastern culture. In China and Japan, both negative and positive emotions are considered an essential part of life. Sadness is not a hindrance to experiencing positive emotions and – unlike in Western society – there isn’t a constant pressure to be joyful.
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Thursday, 29 August 2024
Lyf is break of LO2TD locally. Not globally
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Earth is one country. We are all waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same garden. —The Message of Fraternity
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The idea that a few personality traits can significantly influence lifetime happiness is rooted in psychological research. While different studies might focus on various traits, three commonly cited personality traits that have a strong impact on happiness are:
Optimism:
- Explanation: Optimistic individuals tend to view life positively, expecting good outcomes and focusing on the bright side of situations. This outlook helps them cope better with stress, challenges, and setbacks, leading to greater life satisfaction.
- Impact on Happiness: Optimism contributes to better mental health, resilience, and an overall sense of well-being, making it a significant predictor of happiness.
Conscientiousness:
- Explanation: Conscientious people are organized, responsible, and disciplined. They set goals, work towards them diligently, and tend to make healthier life choices.
- Impact on Happiness: Conscientiousness is linked to success in various life domains (career, relationships), which contributes to long-term happiness. It also correlates with lower levels of stress and better physical health, further enhancing life satisfaction.
Extraversion:
- Explanation: Extraverts are sociable, outgoing, and enjoy being around others. They derive energy from social interactions and are more likely to engage in activities that bring them joy.
- Impact on Happiness: Extraversion is strongly associated with positive emotions, social support, and a sense of belonging, all of which contribute significantly to happiness.
These traits can shape one's experiences and responses to life's ups and downs, influencing overall happiness throughout a lifetime.
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Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Buker bhetor onek jhor. Buk petechhi guli kor
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Darwin struggled with the very existence of suffering, yet he had a profound understanding of its value. At the very centre of his theory of evolution is the necessity of suffering, struggle and death; through these experiences, species can evolve and advance. This link between negative events and the production of beauty, wonder and advancement is evident in the following passage from The Origin of Species: Thus, from the war of nature, from famine and death, the most exalted object which we are capable of conceiving, namely, the production of the higher animals, directly follows. There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.
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“She had studied the universe all her life, but had overlooked its clearest message: For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.”
— Carl Sagan
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Tuesday, 27 August 2024
ZEN KOAN What was your face before you were born?”
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There’s a very good reason why it feels personal. It’s hard to think and feel connected in this way. There’s a lot of evolutionary pressure that keeps us locked into the feeling that “I” am a single, solid human being. You forget that you are made of atoms and star-stuff. Instead you impatiently wait for your food to finish microwaving and get annoyed when people mispronounce your name. Morons.
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SURVIVAL VALUE OF SELFING V OTHERING
Throughout history we needed to hunt, gather, and look out for our emotional and physical wellbeing. It’s probably best if we didn't think of each other as “one” all the time. If I’m over here just feeling my oneness with all of the material world, dissolving all perceivable boundaries, this might not be great for my survival. Without a strong sense of self, you probably would’ve been eaten by a lion by now. Thank you, evolution.
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Privacy is baked into consciousness
One unique aspect about conscious experience concerns the way that it is known. How do you know that a friend is undergoing emotional distress? By seeing the expressions on their face or listening to what they tell you. How do you know that you yourself are undergoing emotional distress? Here, you don’t need to rely on any external cues. You have a kind of direct access to your own conscious states that you don’t have to your friend’s conscious states. Your own conscious states are available to you by way of introspection – what we might metaphorically think of as a kind of ‘looking within’
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