# Chapter Notes and Further Reading **Chapter 1: Introduction: Converging Quests for Consciousness and Reality** - **Key Topics:** Limits of physics, neuroscience, philosophy; N=1 problem; contemplative traditions as inquiry; advanced states as anomalous data; interdisciplinary need; epistemological grounding. - **Internal References:** The epistemological framework (Section 1.5) draws inspiration from principles discussed in `Truth, Inferences...`. The discussion of the N=1 problem (Section 1.1.4) relates to points raised in [Consciousness and the Cosmos](releases/2025/Consciousness%20and%20the%20Cosmos.md). - **Further Reading:** - Chalmers, D. J. (1996). *The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory*. Oxford University Press. (Classic articulation of the Hard Problem). - Kuhn, T. S. (1962). *The Structure of Scientific Revolutions*. University of Chicago Press. (On paradigm shifts and anomalies in science). - Ward, P. D., & Brownlee, D. (2000). *Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe*. Copernicus Books. (Discusses factors relevant to the N=1 problem). **Chapter 2: Landscapes of Boundless Awareness: Unity Across Traditions** - **Key Topics:** Defining boundless awareness, unity, non-duality; comparative phenomenology (Yoga, Vedanta, Christian mysticism, Sufism, Taoism, Indigenous); core features (ego dissolution, altered spacetime, affect, ineffability); perennialism vs. constructivism. - **Further Reading:** - Huxley, A. (1945). *The Perennial Philosophy*. Harper & Brothers. (Classic perennialist anthology). - Katz, S. T. (Ed.). (1978). *Mysticism and Philosophical Analysis*. Oxford University Press. (Contains Katz’s influential constructivist essay). - Stace, W. T. (1960). *Mysticism and Philosophy*. J.B. Lippincott. (Influential comparative study identifying common characteristics). - James, W. (1902). *The Varieties of Religious Experience*. Longmans, Green, and Co. (Pioneering work on mystical states, including ineffability). **Chapter 3: Exploring Formlessness: Arūpajhānas and Nature of Absence** - **Key Topics:** Buddhist formless absorptions (*arūpajhānas*): Base of Infinite Space, Base of Infinite Consciousness, Base of Nothingness, Base of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception; phenomenology of concentration beyond form. - **Further Reading:** - Buddhaghosa, Bhadantācariya. (5th Century CE). *Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification)*. (Classical Theravada manual detailing jhanas; various translations available, e.g., by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli). - Gunaratana, H. (1985). *The Path of Serenity and Insight*. Motilal Banarsidass. (Accessible explanation of jhanas within Theravada context). - Arbel, K. (2017). *Early Buddhist Meditation: The Four Jhanas as the Actualization of Insight*. Routledge. (Scholarly analysis linking jhanas and insight). **Chapter 4: Emptiness and Cessation: Deconstructing Reality and Experience** - **Key Topics:** Buddhist concepts of emptiness (*Śūnyatā*), inherent existence (*svabhava*), dependent origination (*Pratītyasamutpāda*), Madhyamaka logic, cessation (*Nirodha*, *magga/phala*, *Nirodha Samāpatti*); distinguishing these concepts; related ideas (*Ayin*, *Abgrund*, *Wu Ji*). - **Further Reading:** - Nagarjuna. (c. 2nd Century CE). *Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way)*. (Foundational Madhyamaka text; various translations and commentaries available, e.g., by Jay L. Garfield). - Sayadaw, Mahasi. (2016). *Manual of Insight*. Wisdom Publications. (Detailed exposition of Theravada insight path, including stages leading to cessation). - Scholem, G. (1974). *Kabbalah*. Meridian. (Scholarly overview including discussion of Ayin). - McGinn, B. (Ed.). (1986). *Meister Eckhart: Teacher and Preacher*. Paulist Press. (Includes key sermons discussing the Godhead and ground). **Chapter 5: Pathways to Transformation: Contemplative Methods and Stages** - **Key Topics:** Overview of methods (concentration/samatha, insight/vipassanā, non-dual, devotional, body-based); stages of development (jhana progression, Ashtanga Yoga, mystical ascent models); role of ethics and intention. - **Further Reading:** - Lutz, A., Slagter, H. A., Dunne, J. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2008). Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. *Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12*(4), 163–169. (Influential review distinguishing FA and OM). - Underhill, E. (1911). *Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Man’s Spiritual Consciousness*. Methuen & Co. (Classic, though dated, synthesis of mystical stages). - Patanjali. *Yoga Sutras*. (Ancient text outlining the eight limbs; numerous translations and commentaries available, e.g., by B.K.S. Iyengar or Edwin Bryant). **Chapter 6: Cognitive Mechanisms of Contemplative Development** - **Key Topics:** Attention regulation (FA/OM), deautomatization, metacognitive insight (decentering, reperceiving), emotion regulation, equanimity, modulation of self-models, role of network context. - **Internal References:** Discussion of network context relates to points raised in `Neuroscience Research Questions...`. - **Further Reading:** - Tang, Y. Y., Hölzel, B. K., & Posner, M. I. (2015). The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16*(4), 213–225. (Comprehensive review of mechanisms). - Hölzel, B. K., Lazar, S. W., Gard, T., Schuman-Olivier, Z., Vago, D. R., & Ott, U. (2011). How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective. *Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6*(6), 537–559. (Influential model of mindfulness mechanisms). - Vago, D. R., & Silbersweig, D. A. (2012). Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness. *Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6*, 296. (Framework linking mindfulness to self-processing). **Chapter 7: Probing Inner Space: Neuroscientific Methods and Initial Maps** - **Key Topics:** Neuroscientific methods (fMRI, EEG/MEG, TMS/tDCS); challenges (correlation vs. causation, subjectivity, reverse inference, report confound, state vs. trait); foundational findings (DMN modulation, attentional networks, self-processing regions, emotion regulation circuits). - **Internal References:** Discussion of reverse inference relates to `Reverse Inference...`. - **Further Reading:** - Huettel, S. A., Song, A. W., & McCarthy, G. (2014). *Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging* (3rd ed.). Sinauer Associates. (Standard textbook on fMRI). - Luck, S. J. (2014). *An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique* (2nd ed.). MIT Press. (Standard textbook on EEG/ERPs). - Raichle, M. E. (2015). The brain’s default mode network. *Annual Review of Neuroscience, 38*, 433–447. (Review of the DMN). - Fox, K. C. R., et al. (2014). Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. *Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 43*, 48–73. (Meta-analysis of structural changes). **Chapter 8: Beyond Baseline: Neural Dynamics of Deep States and Subtle Signals** - **Key Topics:** Neuroscience of deep absorption (Jhana/Samadhi); correlates of self-transcendence/ego dissolution; non-spike signals (LFPs); glial contributions (astrocytes); ephaptic coupling; neural basis of subjective qualities (certainty, vividness). - **Internal References:** Discussions draw on concepts from `Neuroscience Research Questions...` and `Brain, Subjectivity...`. - **Further Reading:** - Buzsáki, G., Anastassiou, C. A., & Koch, C. (2012). The origin of extracellular fields and currents—EEG, ECoG, LFP and spikes. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 13*(6), 407–420. (Review on LFPs). - Fields, R. D., & Stevens-Graham, B. (2002). New insights into neuron-glia communication. *Science, 298*(5593), 556–562. (Review on glial roles). - Newberg, A. B., & Iversen, J. (2003). The neural basis of the complex mental task of meditation: neurotransmitter and neurochemical considerations. *Medical Hypotheses, 61*(2), 282–291. (Early review considering neurochemistry). - Barrett, F. S., & Griffiths, R. R. (2018). Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates. *Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, 36*, 393–430. (Relevant comparison from psychedelic research). **Chapter 9: Brain as Processor: Cognitive Architectures for Consciousness** - **Key Topics:** Predictive Processing/Active Inference (PP/AIF); Integrated Information Theory (IIT); Global Workspace Theory (GWT/GNW); comparison of IIT and GWT; emergence in AI parallels and limits. - **Internal References:** Discussion of AI emergence relates to `Emergent Behavior...`. - **Further Reading:** - Clark, A. (2016). *Surfing Uncertainty: Prediction, Action, and the Embodied Mind*. Oxford University Press. (Accessible introduction to PP/AIF). - Tononi, G., Boly, M., Massimini, M., & Koch, C. (2016). Integrated information theory: from consciousness to its physical substrate. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17*(7), 450–461. (Overview of IIT 3.0). - Dehaene, S. (2014). *Consciousness and the Brain: Deciphering How the Brain Codes Our Thoughts*. Viking. (Detailed exposition of the GNW model). **Chapter 10: It from Bit: Information, Physics, and Basis of Reality** - **Key Topics:** Critique of reductive physicalism; Wheeler’s “It from Bit/Qubit”; Digital Physics (Zuse, Fredkin, Wolfram); Universe as Quantum Computer (Lloyd, Vedral); Information Dynamics framework proposal; Information and Thermodynamics (Landauer, Entropy). - **Internal References:** Discussion of Information Dynamics draws on `Existence as a Dynamic Process.md` and related lineage documents (`Lineage of Information-Based Physics.md`, `What is Information Dynamics.md`). Links to `Informational Universe...` are relevant here. - **Further Reading:** - Wheeler, J. A. (1990). Information, physics, quantum: The search for links. In W. H. Zurek (Ed.), *Complexity, Entropy, and the Physics of Information*. Addison-Wesley. - Lloyd, S. (2006). *Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes On the Cosmos*. Alfred A. Knopf. - Vedral, V. (2010). *Decoding Reality: The Universe as Quantum Information*. Oxford University Press. - Seife, C. (2006). *Decoding the Universe: How the New Science of Information Is Explaining Everything in the Cosmos, from Our Brains to Black Holes*. Viking. (Popular science overview). **Chapter 11: Beyond Classical: Quantum Theories and Philosophical Foundations of Mind** - **Key Topics:** Observer role in QM interpretations; entanglement/non-locality resonances; quantum biology (microtubule coherence/computation evidence and critiques); Orch OR hypothesis evaluation; quantum-classical interface; philosophical ontologies (panpsychism, neutral monism, process philosophy). - **Internal References:** Discussion of quantum biology in microtubules heavily informed by `Microtubule Quantum Effects Inquiry`. Related points touch on `Quantum Effects...`, `Quantum processes...`, and `Brain, Subjectivity...`. - **Further Reading:** - Penrose, R. (1994). *Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness*. Oxford University Press. (Detailed presentation of Orch OR arguments). - Tegmark, M. (2000). Importance of quantum decoherence in brain processes. *Physical Review E, 61*(4), 4194–4206. (Influential critique of quantum brain hypotheses). - Goff, P., Seager, W., & Allen-Hermanson, S. (2022). Panpsychism. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), *Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy* (Winter 2022 ed.). (Comprehensive overview). - Whitehead, A. N. (1929). *Process and Reality*. Macmillan. (Foundational text of process philosophy). **Chapter 12: Conceptions of Time: Linear Paths, Revolving Wheels, and Subjective Experience** - **Key Topics:** Linear time (Abrahamic, Western progress); cyclical time (Eastern traditions); philosophical implications (meaning, freedom, suffering); relativity and the block universe; subjective time perception in contemplative states. - **Internal References:** Draws on concepts discussed in `Fundamental Nature...`. - **Further Reading:** - Rovelli, C. (2018). *The Order of Time*. Riverhead Books. (Accessible physics perspective on time). - Eliade, M. (1954). *The Myth of the Eternal Return: Cosmos and History*. Princeton University Press. (Classic work on cyclical time in traditional societies). - Callender, C. (2017). *What Makes Time Special?* Oxford University Press. (Philosophical exploration of time’s nature). **Chapter 13: Recursion, Scale, and Interconnectedness: Patterns in Mind and Cosmos** - **Key Topics:** Recursion and self-reference (Hofstadter); fractal geometry and scale invariance in nature; Indra’s Net metaphor; holographic principle; phenomenological experiences of scale/pattern. - **Internal References:** Relates to ideas in [Existence as a Dynamic Process](Existence%20as%20a%20Dynamic%20Process.md) - **Further Reading:** - Hofstadter, D. R. (1979). *Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid*. Basic Books. (Exploration of recursion and self-reference). - Mandelbrot, B. B. (1982). *The Fractal Geometry of Nature*. W. H. Freeman. (Classic work on fractals). - Cook, F. H. (1977). *Hua-yen Buddhism: The Jewel Net of Indra*. Pennsylvania State University Press. (Detailed explanation of Indra’s Net). - Susskind, L., & Lindesay, J. (2005). *An Introduction to Black Holes, Information and the String Theory Revolution: The Holographic Universe*. World Scientific. (Technical introduction to the holographic principle). **Chapter 14: Cosmological Frameworks: Ancient Insights and Modern Theories** - **Key Topics:** Ancient cosmologies (order/chaos, creation); Big Bang model (evidence, singularity, fine-tuning); modern cyclic models (Ekpyrotic/Cyclic, Penrose CCC); string theory and multiverse hypothesis. - **Internal References:** Draws on concepts discussed in `Fundamental Nature...`. - **Further Reading:** - Toulmin, S., & Goodfield, J. (1965). *The Discovery of Time*. Harper & Row. (History of changing conceptions of time and cosmology). - Kolb, E. W., & Turner, M. S. (1990). *The Early Universe*. Addison-Wesley. (Standard textbook on physical cosmology). - Greene, B. (2011). *The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos*. Alfred A. Knopf. (Popular exploration of multiverse concepts). **Chapter 15: Singularities: Physics, Mathematics, and Mysticism** - **Key Topics:** Singularities in physics (black holes, Big Bang); singularities in mathematics; analogous concepts in mysticism (point of union, void, ground); comparison (analogies vs. differences); information dynamics perspective. - **Internal References:** Relates to ideas in [Existence as a Dynamic Process](Existence%20as%20a%20Dynamic%20Process.md) - **Further Reading:** - Wald, R. M. (1984). *General Relativity*. University of Chicago Press. (Advanced textbook discussing singularities in GR). - Penrose, R. (1965). Gravitational collapse and space-time singularities. *Physical Review Letters, 14*(3), 57–59. (Seminal paper on singularity theorems). - Stace, W. T. (1960). *Mysticism and Philosophy*. (Includes discussion of undifferentiated unity/void experiences). **Chapter 16: Alchemy of Awareness: Transformation, Integration, and Challenges** - **Key Topics:** Fruits of practice (well-being, compassion, wisdom); mechanisms of transformation (cognitive, affective, behavioral, neural); integration into daily life; potential difficulties (“dark night,” spiritual bypassing, integration challenges); implications for flourishing and ethics. - **Internal References:** Draws on concepts discussed in *[Consciousness, Contemplation...](25116081651.md)*. - **Further Reading:** - Davidson, R. J., & Harrington, A. (Eds.). (2002). *Visions of Compassion: Western Scientists and Tibetan Buddhists Examine Human Nature*. Oxford University Press. (Dialogue on compassion and transformation). - Britton, W. B., Lindahl, J. R., et al. (2014). Awakening is not a metaphor: the effects of Buddhist meditation practices on basic wakefulness. *Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1307*(1), 64–81. (Research related to meditation difficulties). - Welwood, J. (2000). *Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation*. Shambhala Publications. (Discusses integration and spiritual bypassing). **Chapter 17: Ways of Knowing: Contemplation, Science, and Epistemology** - **Key Topics:** Contemplative epistemologies (direct experience, intuition, non-dual knowing); scientific epistemology (empiricism, rationalism, falsification); comparing justification, verification, scope, limits; status of contemplative knowledge claims; methodological rigor (neurophenomenology, first-person methods). - **Internal References:** Draws on concepts discussed in *[Consciousness, Contemplation...](25116081651.md)*. - **Further Reading:** - Varela, F. J. (1996). Neurophenomenology: A methodological remedy for the hard problem. *Journal of Consciousness Studies, 3*(4), 330–349. (Foundational paper on neurophenomenology). - Wallace, B. A. (2007). *Contemplative Science: Where Buddhism and Neuroscience Converge*. Columbia University Press. (Argues for the epistemic value of contemplative inquiry). - Petitmengin, C. (2006). Describing the experience of describing: The blind spot of introspection. *Journal of Consciousness Studies, 13*(1-2), 50-70. (On micro-phenomenological methods). **Chapter 18: Synthesis: Weaving Together Consciousness, Contemplation, and Reality** - **Key Topics:** Recapitulation of journey; interwoven nature of mind and reality; revisiting challenges to standard paradigms; sketching an integrated, information-centric view; significance of N=1 problem. - **Internal References:** Draws on [Consciousness and the Cosmos](releases/2025/Consciousness%20and%20the%20Cosmos.md). - **Further Reading:** (Suggests works attempting broad synthesis) - Chalmers, D. J. (2022). *Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy*. W. W. Norton & Company. (Explores simulation hypothesis and related philosophical issues). - Kastrup, B. (2019). *The Idea of the World: A Multi-Disciplinary Argument for the Mental Nature of Reality*. Iff Books. (Argues for an idealist ontology). **Chapter 19: Future Directions: Charting Inner and Outer Cosmos** - **Key Topics:** Outstanding questions (consciousness, neuroscience, physics, contemplative science); promising methodologies/technologies; broader implications (AI, medicine, ethics, education); concluding thoughts. - **Further Reading:** (Suggests review articles or forward-looking pieces) - Koch, C., Massimini, M., Boly, M., & Tononi, G. (2016). Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17*(5), 307–321. (Review highlighting challenges). - Seth, A. K., & Bayne, T. (2022). Theories of consciousness. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 23*(7), 439–452. (Review of current theories and future directions). - Journals like *Journal of Consciousness Studies*, *Frontiers in Human Neuroscience*, *Nature Reviews Neuroscience/Physics*, etc., for ongoing research frontiers. --- **Preliminary Bibliography / Reference List** *(This list includes sources mentioned in the notes above and key internal documents. It would need to be alphabetized and formatted consistently in a final version, potentially adding more standard academic references consulted during the writing)* - Arbel, K. (2017). *Early Buddhist Meditation: The Four Jhanas as the Actualization of Insight*. Routledge. - Babcock, N. S., et al. (2024). Ultraviolet Superradiance from Mega-Networks of Tryptophan in Biological Architectures. *Journal of Physical Chemistry B*. (Note: Specific citation details for Babcock et al. 2024 would need to be confirmed and added). - Baars, B. J. (1988). *A Cognitive Theory of Consciousness*. Cambridge University Press. - Bandyopadhyay, A., et al. (2014). Evidence of Massive Global Synchronization and the Consciousness state. (Note: Precise citation for Bandyopadhyay’s 2014 vibration work needed). - Barrett, F. S., & Griffiths, R. R. (2018). Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates. *Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, 36*, 393–430. - Bekenstein, J. D. (1973). Black holes and entropy. *Physical Review D, 7*(8), 2333–2346. - Britton, W. B., Lindahl, J. R., et al. (2014). Awakening is not a metaphor: the effects of Buddhist meditation practices on basic wakefulness. *Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1307*(1), 64–81. - Buddhaghosa, Bhadantācariya. (5th Century CE). *Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification)*. (Trans. Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli). Buddhist Publication Society. - Buzsáki, G., Anastassiou, C. A., & Koch, C. (2012). The origin of extracellular fields and currents—EEG, ECoG, LFP and spikes. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 13*(6), 407–420. - Callender, C. (2017). *What Makes Time Special?* Oxford University Press. - Chalmers, D. J. (1996). *The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory*. Oxford University Press. - Chalmers, D. J. (2022). *Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy*. W. W. Norton & Company. - Clark, A. (2016). *Surfing Uncertainty: Prediction, Action, and the Embodied Mind*. Oxford University Press. - Cook, F. H. (1977). *Hua-yen Buddhism: The Jewel Net of Indra*. Pennsylvania State University Press. - Davidson, R. J., & Harrington, A. (Eds.). (2002). *Visions of Compassion: Western Scientists and Tibetan Buddhists Examine Human Nature*. Oxford University Press. - Dehaene, S. (2014). *Consciousness and the Brain: Deciphering How the Brain Codes Our Thoughts*. Viking. - Eliade, M. (1954). *The Myth of the Eternal Return: Cosmos and History*. Princeton University Press. - Fields, R. D., & Stevens-Graham, B. (2002). New insights into neuron-glia communication. *Science, 298*(5593), 556–562. - Fox, K. C. R., et al. (2014). Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. *Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 43*, 48–73. - Friston, K. (2010). The free-energy principle: a unified brain theory? *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11*(2), 127–138. - Garfield, J. L. (Trans.). (1995). *The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way: Nāgārjuna’s Mūlamadhyamakakārikā*. Oxford University Press. - Goff, P., Seager, W., & Allen-Hermanson, S. (2022). Panpsychism. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), *Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy* (Winter 2022 ed.). - Greene, B. (2011). *The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos*. Alfred A. Knopf. - Gunaratana, H. (1985). *The Path of Serenity and Insight*. Motilal Banarsidass. - Hagan, S., Hameroff, S. R., & Tuszyński, J. A. (2002). Quantum computation in brain microtubules? Decoherence and biological feasibility. *Physical Review E, 65*(6 Pt 1), 061901. - Hameroff, S., & Penrose, R. (2014). Consciousness in the universe: A review of the ‘Orch OR’ theory. *Physics of Life Reviews, 11*(1), 39–78. - Hawking, S. W. (1975). Particle creation by black holes. *Communications in Mathematical Physics, 43*(3), 199–220. - Hofstadter, D. R. (1979). *Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid*. Basic Books. - Hölzel, B. K., Lazar, S. W., Gard, T., Schuman-Olivier, Z., Vago, D. R., & Ott, U. (2011). How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective. *Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6*(6), 537–559. - Huettel, S. A., Song, A. W., & McCarthy, G. (2014). *Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging* (3rd ed.). Sinauer Associates. - Huxley, A. (1945). *The Perennial Philosophy*. Harper & Brothers. - James, W. (1902). *The Varieties of Religious Experience*. Longmans, Green, and Co. - Kastrup, B. (2019). *The Idea of the World: A Multi-Disciplinary Argument for the Mental Nature of Reality*. Iff Books. - Katz, S. T. (Ed.). (1978). *Mysticism and Philosophical Analysis*. Oxford University Press. - Koch, C., Massimini, M., Boly, M., & Tononi, G. (2016). Neural correlates of consciousness: progress and problems. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17*(5), 307–321. - Kolb, E. W., & Turner, M. S. (1990). *The Early Universe*. Addison-Wesley. - Kuhn, T. S. (1962). *The Structure of Scientific Revolutions*. University of Chicago Press. - Landauer, R. (1961). Irreversibility and heat generation in the computing process. *IBM Journal of Research and Development, 5*(3), 183–191. - Levine, J. (1983). Materialism and qualia: The explanatory gap. *Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, 64*(4), 354–361. - Lloyd, S. (2006). *Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes On the Cosmos*. Alfred A. Knopf. - Luck, S. J. (2014). *An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique* (2nd ed.). MIT Press. - Lutz, A., Slagter, H. A., Dunne, J. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2008). Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. *Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12*(4), 163–169. - Mandelbrot, B. B. (1982). *The Fractal Geometry of Nature*. W. H. Freeman. - McGinn, B. (Ed.). (1986). *Meister Eckhart: Teacher and Preacher*. Paulist Press. - Nagarjuna. (c. 2nd Century CE). *Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way)*. - Newberg, A. B., & Iversen, J. (2003). The neural basis of the complex mental task of meditation: neurotransmitter and neurochemical considerations. *Medical Hypotheses, 61*(2), 282–291. - Patanjali. *Yoga Sutras*. - Penrose, R. (1965). Gravitational collapse and space-time singularities. *Physical Review Letters, 14*(3), 57–59. - Penrose, R. (1994). *Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness*. Oxford University Press. - Penrose, R. (2010). *Cycles of Time: An Extraordinary New View of the Universe*. The Bodley Head. (Details CCC). - Petitmengin, C. (2006). Describing the experience of describing: The blind spot of introspection. *Journal of Consciousness Studies, 13*(1-2), 50-70. - Popper, K. R. (1959). *The Logic of Scientific Discovery*. Hutchinson. - Quni, R. B. (2025) *[Consciousness and the Cosmos](releases/2025/Consciousness%20and%20the%20Cosmos.md)*. QNFO - Quni, R. B. (2025). *[Existence as a Dynamic Process](Existence%20as%20a%20Dynamic%20Process.md)*. QNFO. - Quni, R. B. (2025). *Informational Universe Hypothesis*. QNFO. - Quni, R. B. (2025). *[Lineage of Information-Based Physics](releases/2025/Lineage%20of%20Information-Based%20Physics.md)*. QNFO. - Quni, R. B. (2025). [What is Information Dynamics](releases/2025/What%20is%20Information%20Dynamics.md). QNFO - Raichle, M. E. (2015). The brain’s default mode network. *Annual Review of Neuroscience, 38*, 433–447. - Rovelli, C. (2018). *The Order of Time*. Riverhead Books. - Sayadaw, Mahasi. (2016). *Manual of Insight*. Wisdom Publications. - Scholem, G. (1974). *Kabbalah*. Meridian. - Seife, C. (2006). *Decoding the Universe: How the New Science of Information Is Explaining Everything in the Cosmos, from Our Brains to Black Holes*. Viking. - Seth, A. K., & Bayne, T. (2022). Theories of consciousness. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 23*(7), 439–452. - Shannon, C. E. (1948). A Mathematical Theory of Communication. *Bell System Technical Journal, 27*(3), 379–423. - Spinoza, B. (1677). *Ethics*. (Various translations available). - Stace, W. T. (1960). *Mysticism and Philosophy*. J.B. Lippincott. - Steinhardt, P. J., & Turok, N. (2007). *Endless Universe: Beyond the Big Bang*. Doubleday. (Details the cyclic model). - Susskind, L., & Lindesay, J. (2005). *An Introduction to Black Holes, Information and the String Theory Revolution: The Holographic Universe*. World Scientific. - Tang, Y. Y., Hölzel, B. K., & Posner, M. I. (2015). The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16*(4), 213–225. - Tegmark, M. (2000). Importance of quantum decoherence in brain processes. *Physical Review E, 61*(4), 4194–4206. - Tononi, G., Boly, M., Massimini, M., & Koch, C. (2016). Integrated information theory: from consciousness to its physical substrate. *Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17*(7), 450–461. - Toulmin, S., & Goodfield, J. (1965). *The Discovery of Time*. Harper & Row. - Underhill, E. (1911). *Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Man’s Spiritual Consciousness*. Methuen & Co. - Vago, D. R., & Silbersweig, D. A. (2012). Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness. *Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6*, 296. - Varela, F. J. (1996). Neurophenomenology: A methodological remedy for the hard problem. *Journal of Consciousness Studies, 3*(4), 330–349. - Vedral, V. (2010). *Decoding Reality: The Universe as Quantum Information*. Oxford University Press. - Wald, R. M. (1984). *General Relativity*. University of Chicago Press. - Wallace, B. A. (2007). *Contemplative Science: Where Buddhism and Neuroscience Converge*. Columbia University Press. - Ward, P. D., & Brownlee, D. (2000). *Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe*. Copernicus Books. - Welwood, J. (2000). *Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation*. Shambhala Publications. - Wheeler, J. A. (1990). Information, physics, quantum: The search for links. In W. H. Zurek (Ed.), *Complexity, Entropy, and the Physics of Information*. Addison-Wesley. - Whitehead, A. N. (1929). *Process and Reality*. Macmillan. - Wolfram, S. (2002). *A New Kind of Science*. Wolfram Media.