TCF 01.21.24 | Is Your Brain an Illusion?

As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, the Chopra Foundation continues its mission to explore the intersection of science, spirituality, and consciousness. This week, our newsletter brings you thought-provoking insights and groundbreaking developments in these realms.

Our lead article, "Is Your Brain an Illusion?" penned by our founder Deepak Chopra MD, delves into the ancient Indian concept of Maya, which suggests that the world is an illusion. In this enlightening piece, Dr. Chopra connects this millennia-old philosophy with the latest in quantum physics, exploring the profound mystery of the human brain. This article is a must-read for anyone interested in the convergence of ancient wisdom and modern science.

We also feature an exciting discussion with legendary mycologist Paul Stamets in video conversation "Magic Mushrooms." This conversation traverses the science and spirituality of mushrooms, their role in ancient rituals, and their potential in modern healing and consciousness exploration. Is language a divine gift for constructing the experience of the human universe? Will we be taking a leap with AI in changing the human universe? Dr. Chopra shares his insights in the video “Weaving the Fabric of Reality: Language, AI, and the Human Experience”.

Prepare to embark on a mind-expanding journey through the mycelial network and discover the transformative power of these remarkable organisms.

I have shared my latest article, "Tech Meets Treatment: AI’s Rising Role in Addiction Recovery," which addresses the escalating global crisis of addiction. From substance abuse to behavioral addictions, this piece examines the innovative role of Artificial Intelligence in revolutionizing addiction treatment and offering hope to millions worldwide.

Finally, our newsletter includes an inspiring story of reversal and healing in "Reversing Heart Disease" by Anoop Kumar, MD. This personal narrative of Dr. Jimmy Conway's journey through heart disease and his unconventional path to recovery is a testament to the power of lifestyle changes and nutrition in healing.

We hope these articles inspire and inform you as much as they have us. As always, the Chopra Foundation remains committed to advancing our understanding of the mind, body, and spirit for a healthier, more conscious world.

Warm regards,

Poonacha Machaiah - CEO

The Chopra Foundation

www.choprafoundation.org

Is Your Brain an Illusion?

By Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP, FRCP

When told about the ancient Indian concept of Maya, which holds that the world is an illusion, most people, both East and West, shrug off the notion. If they ponder Maya at all, they relegate it to metaphysics, which is just as easy to disregard. But a century after the quantum revolution in physics, Maya is more relevant than ever because its meaning pertains to something as intimate to us as our brain.

The mystery of the human brain is easily summarized: How does a watery mass of organic chemicals manage to think? I think there is an answer, which is given in my new book, Quantum Body. For a very long time, the mystery got no further than a famous quip: “What is mind? No matter. What is matter, never mind.” The quip refers to the impossibility of connecting the physical world with the non-physical domain of consciousness.

You are conscious, of which there is no doubt. Chemicals aren’t conscious, which is equally undeniable. The gap between these two statements is unbridgeable — until you consider the quantum. In the earliest days of the quantum revolution, around 1900, a number of the theory’s greatest proponents traced consciousness to the quantum field. In a simple way, the quantum field provides the source for everything.

That it is the source of space, time, matter, and energy was posited then and holds true now. But “everything” must include the mind, and that was the rub. The mind isn’t quantum. No amount of data, measurement, and experimentation at the quantum level — or anywhere else — can explain what an experience is. The color of a rose expressed in wavelengths of light has nothing to do with seeing it as red.

The same is true of all five senses. Current research has traced smell, vision, and touch to quantum processes — your retina, for example, can register a single photon, the quantum particle associated with light. But photons are invisible. They become bright only through our perception.

To a neuroscientist, this fact solves the riddle of mind and brain. The brain allows us to see, and to perform every other mental process. Unfortunately, this is where Maya throws a monkey wrench into the machinery. There is no light in the brain, no brightness, no pictures, or anything but the firing of faint electrical charges and the exchange of ionized chemicals in the visual cortex.<Link to full article>

Magic Mushrooms with special guest Paul Stamets

Dive deep into the fascinating world of mushrooms with Dr. Deepak Chopra and legendary mycologist Paul Stamets. This conversation explores the science, spirituality, and potential of these remarkable organisms, from their role in ancient rituals to their modern-day applications in healing and consciousness exploration. ?Embark on a mind-expanding journey through the mycelial network, revealing the profound potential of mushrooms to heal our bodies, minds, and planet.

Key topics:

?? Unraveling the Mystery: Paul's journey from childhood fascination to leading authority on mushrooms and their impact on the human mind and body.

?? Psychedelic Secrets: The science behind psilocybin and its ability to promote neuroplasticity, reduce anxiety and depression, and even increase neurogenesis.

?? Microdosing Magic: Unveil the benefits of microdosing with psilocybin and discover the "stack" that could be a game-changer for cognitive function and aging.

?? Mushrooms, Myths & Morality: From Soma to Manna, explore the historical and spiritual significance of mushrooms across cultures and traditions.

?? Healing the Planet: Discover how mushrooms can hold the key to ecosystem restoration, bioremediation, and sustainable living.

Paul Edward Stamets is an American mycologist and entrepreneur who sells various mushroom products through his company. He is an author and advocate of medicinal fungi and mycoremediation. ?Follow him on social media at:

• www.instagram.com/paulstamets
• www.twitter.com/paulstamets
• www.facebook.com/paulstamets

For his references and publications, please visit www.mushroomreferences.com

To enroll in the study: ?www.microdose.me

Weaving the Fabric of Reality: Language, AI, and the Human Experience

Tech Meets Treatment: AI’s Rising Role in Addiction Recovery

By Poonacha Machaiah | January 21, 2024

The escalating trend of addiction, encompassing drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes, is a global issue transcending socioeconomic boundaries. Once relegated to certain demographics, this phenomenon poses a significant global public health challenge. The scope of addiction extends beyond these substances; behavioral addictions like excessive computer gaming, gambling, sex, and overeating are also taking a toll on individual health and societal welfare.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD), a chronic mental health condition, is at the heart of this crisis. It disrupts normal brain functions, compelling individuals to persistently engage in substance use or harmful behaviors despite their detrimental effects. The repercussions of addiction are profound — it has the power to dismantle marriages, ruin friendships, derail careers, and pose serious threats to an individual’s health and safety. In the United States, the impact of this crisis is particularly visible, affecting a wide spectrum of communities and individuals.

• Almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment.
• About 25% of people who use illicit drugs develop an addiction.
• 24% of people with a drug disorder have an Opioid use disorder.
• About 9.5 million Americans who have a substance use disorder also have a mental illness.
• More than 70% of people who tried an illegal drug before the age of 13 have an addiction to alcohol or drugs.
• Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 are most likely to use addictive drugs.

I spent the last month in my home city of Bengaluru (The Silicon Valley of India) and believe that AI/tech could augment as a modality to address the silent mental health and addiction crisis. Based on a recent article, Bengaluru ranks second in India after Chennai in deaths by suicide attributed to substance abuse. Nationwide, deaths by suicide attributed to drug abuse and alcohol addiction breached the 10K mark for the first time in 2021, with more than one suicide death reported every hour on average. (article)

Artificial Intelligence is a potentially transformative force, particularly in addiction recovery. AI can not only augment but also revolutionize the way we approach addiction treatment, offering hope and novel solutions to millions worldwide grappling with addiction. Link to full article

Reversing Heart Disease

By Anoop Kumar, MD, MM, Co-founder and CEO, Health Revolution

Jimmy woke up one morning and had a strange sensation in his left arm. It was difficult to describe. It wasn't quite pain, but he knew something wasn't right. He decided to get it checked out.

After arriving at the cardiologist's office, Jimmy found out his hunch was correct. His numbers were through the roof. He was promptly scheduled for a cardiac stress test, which, in his words, he “flunked.” The next step was an arteriogram.

An arteriogram is a procedure in which dye is injected into a blood vessel and allowed to flow through the vessel while being imaged. If there is constriction or blockage of the vessel, the dye will not fill that section of the vessel, and the image will show a dark spot without flow, telling us there's a problem. Well, the arteriogram showed what Jimmy's doctor suspected. He had severe, multi-vessel heart disease that was life-threatening. He would require emergency cardiac bypass surgery.

What I haven't told you yet is that Jimmy is Dr. Jimmy Conway, an orthopedic surgeon with decades of practice under his belt. Despite being a surgeon, Jimmy’s first inclination after hearing the recommendation to have cardiac bypass surgery wasn’t to go through with the surgery. It so happened that his wife had just seen a book that talked about how to reverse heart disease with nutrition. Much to the shock of his cardiac surgeon, who was a buddy of his from medical school, Jimmy decided to put off the surgery and immediately embark on an intensive lifestyle change, spearheaded by plant-based nutrition.

The result? Jimmy's symptoms went away, his exercise tolerance increased, and now, many years later, he's living in a way that was unimaginable by his doctors. He didn’t have surgery. This wasn't a decision that Jimmy took lightly. He took a lot of flak for it from his professional community. He understood the potential risks and rewards and made his choice. ?Whatever you may take away from Jimmy's case, one thing is clear:

Healing is possible.

Anoop Kumar, MD, MM is Co-founder and CEO of Health Revolution, a company building an ecosystem for healing. His flagship 28-Day Jumpstart course guides participants to activate their Four Engines of health and healing: Nutrition, Movement, Connection, and Rest.

Chopra Foundation Research

Facts, Fallacies, and Finding the Truth - By Ryan Castle

Some people believe that scientific research is opposed to mind-body practices. This belief exists among both scientists and mind-body practitioners, but that doesn't mean it's true. In reality, the path of science is not opposed to anything, it is about carefully and impartially pursuing evidence and facts. The problem is when that pursuit fails to be either careful or impartial.

The largest ever study on controlled breathing reported that controlled breathing is no more useful than placebo, implicitly dismissing controlled breathing as useless. Here's the tricky part: they aren't lying, but they aren't right.

The study created a method to test coherent breathing, a moderate form of controlled breathing. In scientific studies, you have a test group, which are people doing the thing you want to test (controlled breathing), and you have the control group, people doing a similar but useless version of what you want to test (the placebo). ?Link to full article

NEWS

• Moonwalk Bio Grabs $57 Million, Joins Push for ‘Epigenetic’ Treatments - Moonwalk and other biotech startups hope to treat diseases by activating beneficial genes and suppressing disease-causing ones.
• Mini-robots modeled on insects may be smallest, lightest, fastest ever developed - Two insect-like robots, a mini-bug and a water strider may be the smallest, lightest and fastest fully functional micro-robots ever known to be created.
• Life expectancy gap between men and women is closing worldwide - The life expectancies of men around the world are catching up with women's longer lifespans, possibly due to a decline in smoking and alcohol-related deaths