I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
~ Michael Jordan
Monday, 23 February 2026
Sunday, 22 February 2026
TA
Self doesn’t consist of anything. Show me ‘self.’ Show me either the physical or non-physical self. Go looking for this ‘self’ and it will be clear there is no such thing. ‘Self’ is just a concept.
“There is no entity by name mind or ‘self.’ Because of the emergence of thoughts we surmise something from which they start. That we term ‘self.’ When we probe to see what it is, there is nothing like it. The fact is that what we call ‘self’ is only a bundle of thoughts….with no thinker” - Ramana Maharshi
There appears to be a real ‘organism’ (body,) but there’s no ‘self’ inside.
And at the Absolute level, even the apparent body form and ‘world’ are just illusory projections - like your dreams.
All just free wild energy, simultaneously forming and evaporating into formlessness, with no static ‘self’ inside.
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, 7 February 2026
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
CWH C1374521
Based on that CT report + the clinical history (sunsetting eyes, lethargy, raised BP, ?raised ICP), the top 3 differentials for the cause of this pattern of haemorrhage are:
1) Ruptured intracranial aneurysm (subarachnoid haemorrhage)
Why it fits:
The haemorrhage is centred in the quadrigeminal cistern / perimesencephalic cistern, which is a classic subarachnoid location.
There is intraventricular extension (blood in lateral + 3rd ventricles), which can happen with aneurysmal SAH.
Obstructive hydrocephalus is very common after SAH/IVH.
No trauma features → makes spontaneous SAH more likely.
Most likely aneurysm territories in this region:
Posterior circulation aneurysms (e.g. basilar tip, PCA, SCA).
2) Vascular malformation (AVM / AV fistula / cavernoma)
Why it fits:
AVMs or fistulas can cause large-volume haemorrhage, including subarachnoid + intraventricular blood.
Posterior fossa / deep midline vascular lesions can bleed into cisterns and ventricles.
This is especially important in neonates/infants where vascular causes are a key concern.
Clue in the report:
They explicitly recommend MRI/US “for evaluation of underlying vascular or structural abnormality” — that’s radiology code for “we’re worried this could be vascular.”
3) Neonatal/intraventricular haemorrhage related to prematurity or germinal matrix bleed (with secondary hydrocephalus)
Why it fits:
The report strongly suggests this is a neonate (“neonatal intensive care input”, cranial ultrasound).
Neonatal IVH can cause acute obstructive hydrocephalus, lethargy, sunsetting eyes, and raised BP (Cushing response).
Although classic germinal matrix IVH is more anterior (caudothalamic groove), severe IVH can track widely through the ventricles and cause secondary cisternal blood.
Why it’s slightly less perfect than #1–2:
The centre of haemorrhage being described as quadrigeminal/perimesencephalic cistern is more “subarachnoid-first” than “ventricular-first.”
Practical next-step thought (what the team will usually do)
Urgent neurosurgical review (likely CSF diversion: EVD/VP shunt depending on stability).
Cranial ultrasound (fast bedside).
MRI brain ± MRA/MRV when stable.
Often CTA/MRA is considered specifically to look for posterior circulation aneurysm/AVM.
If you want, I can also give you a one-liner impression (exam-style) or help you phrase the top ddx in a radiology report style.
Saturday, 31 January 2026
Friday, 30 January 2026
JC
A
You’re thinking of Jesus calming the storm — not a parable, but a miracle story.
Short version (Gospels: Matthew 8:23–27, Mark 4:35–41, Luke 8:22–25):
Jesus and his disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee. A violent storm comes up; waves swamp the boat. The disciples panic, convinced they’re about to die.
Jesus is asleep.
They wake him, crying out for help. Jesus stands, rebukes the wind and the waves, and suddenly the sea is completely calm. Then he says:
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
The disciples are left in awe, asking:
“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him.”
Core meaning:
- Trust in the midst of fear
- Jesus’ authority over chaos and nature
- Faith vs. panic when life feels out of control
If you want, I can:
- Retell it in parable-like language
- Explain it symbolically
- Or connect it to a modern-life situation 🌊
Mystical
Ah! The neurobiology of mystical experiences is a fascinating area where neuroscience meets spirituality. Let’s go carefully and clearly, step by step.
1. What Are Mystical Experiences?
Mystical experiences are intense, often transcendent experiences that people report across cultures, often involving:
- A sense of oneness with the universe or something greater
- Altered perception of time and space
- Deep emotional ecstasy or peace
- Feelings of sacredness or “ultimate reality”
They can occur spontaneously, during meditation, prayer, or under the influence of psychedelics.
2. Brain Regions Involved
Neuroimaging studies (fMRI, PET) and EEG studies have shown several key brain areas involved:
|
Brain Region |
Role in Mystical Experience |
|
Prefrontal Cortex |
Decreased activity (especially dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) → reduced sense of self, ego dissolution |
|
Parietal Lobe (especially posterior superior parietal lobe) |
Normally integrates body and space; decreased activity → loss of self-boundaries, feeling of unity |
|
Temporal Lobes |
Activity changes associated with visions, auditory hallucinations, spiritual encounters |
|
Limbic System (amygdala, hippocampus) |
Regulates emotion and memory, contributing to profound awe or ecstasy |
|
Thalamus |
Sensory gating changes → altered perception of space and time |
💡 Key Insight: Many mystical experiences involve less activity in “self-referential” brain networks and more connectivity in emotion and perception networks.
3. Neurochemical Mechanisms
Several neurotransmitters and neurochemicals play a role:
- Serotonin (5-HT2A receptor): Psychedelics like psilocybin activate this receptor → induce mystical-type experiences.
- Dopamine: Linked to reward and salience, may explain feelings of awe or ecstasy.
- Endorphins / endogenous opioids: May produce blissful, pain-free states.
- Glutamate: NMDA receptor modulation can influence perception and consciousness.
4. EEG & Brainwave Patterns
- Theta waves (4–7 Hz): Increase during deep meditation → associated with internal attention and altered consciousness.
- Gamma waves (30–100 Hz): Linked to heightened awareness, integration of information, often seen in advanced meditators.
- Alpha waves (8–12 Hz): Typically increased in relaxed, reflective states.
5. Experimental Evidence
- Meditation Studies:
- Long-term meditators show decreased parietal lobe activity, correlating with ego dissolution.
- Psychedelic Studies:
- Psilocybin, LSD, and DMT induce mystical experiences measurable on questionnaires; fMRI shows reduced default mode network (DMN) activity.
- Temporal Lobe Stimulation:
- Electrical stimulation of temporal lobes can elicit “spiritual” sensations even in non-mystics.
6. Key Concept: Default Mode Network (DMN)
- DMN = brain network active during self-referential thought and mind-wandering.
- Mystical experiences often involve suppression of the DMN, leading to:
- Ego dissolution
- Sense of unity with everything
- Timelessness
Summary
Mystical experiences are neurologically measurable states where:
- Self-referential networks quiet down
- Emotion and perception networks activate differently
- Neurochemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins modulate experience
- EEG patterns shift toward theta/gamma waves, reflecting altered consciousness
In short: your brain literally rewires its sense of self and reality, producing what mystics call “oneness with the universe.”
If you want, I can make a diagram showing which brain regions light up or quiet down during a mystical experience, which makes this really intuitive.
Do you want me to do that?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)