Neil Theise, MD

Department of Pathology

New York University School of Medicine

New York City

Who are we?Stem cells, Complexity, and the Science of Being

Neil Theise, MD

Department of Pathology

New York University School of Medicine

New York City

neiltheise.com

academia.edu/neiltheise

researchgate/neiltheise

slideshare.net (neiltheise)

Who are we?

Who are we?

Wisdom

A complexity primer

The universe as self organizing system

Fundamental Awareness and implications

Compassion

Wisdom

Wisdom

Compassion

Wisdom

Compassion

Wisdom

A complexity primer

Complex Adaptive Systems:1,2

1Lewin R, Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos. 2nd ed.

Chicago IL: University of Chicago Press; 2002.2Johnson S, Emergence. New York NY: Scribner; 2001.

Complex Adaptive Systems:

Interacting individuals that,

if they fulfill 4 criteria,

organize themselves from the bottom up,

into larger structures…

Complex Adaptive Systems:

Interacting individuals that,

if they fulfill 4 criteria,

organize themselves from the bottom up,

into larger structures,

which appear planned from the top, downward…

Complex Adaptive Systems:

Interacting individuals that,

if they fulfill 4 criteria,

organize themselves from the bottom up,

into larger structures,

which appear planned from the top, downward,

BUT ARE NOT!

Complex Adaptive Systems:

Interacting individuals that,

if they fulfill 4 criteria,

organize themselves from the bottom up,

into larger structures

which appear planned from the top, downward,

BUT ARE NOT!

These structures are referred to as

“emergent self-organization”

and are ADAPTIVE.

Complex Adaptive Systems:

Rise and fall of economic markets

Urban development

Stem cells and tissue development and repair

Beatlemania

Rise and fall of civilizations

Evolution and speciation

Complex Adaptive Systems:

Rise and fall of economic markets

Urban development

Stem cells and tissue development and repair

Beatlemania

Rise and fall of civilizations

Evolution and speciation

Cell Lineages

Complex Adaptive Systems:

Rise and fall of economic markets

Urban development

Stem cells and tissue development and repair

Beatlemania

Rise and fall of civilizations

Evolution and speciation

Ant Colonies

Complex Adaptive Systems:

Rise and fall of economic markets

Urban development

Stem cells and tissue development and repair

Beatlemania

Rise and fall of civilizations

Evolution and speciation

Complex Adaptive Systems:

• Numbers matter

Complex Adaptive Systems:

• Numbers matter

• Negative feedback loops

Complex Adaptive Systems:

• Numbers matter

• Negative feedback loops

• Interactions are local without global sensing

Complex Adaptive Systems:

• Numbers matter

• Negative feedback loops

• Interactions are local without global sensing

• Low level randomness

Complex Adaptive Systems:

• Numbers matter

• Negative feedback loops

• Interactions are local without global sensing

• “Quenched disorder”

Implications of Cell Lineages

as Complex Adaptive Systems

Mass extinctions.

order

disorder

“chaos”

disorder

“chaos”

complex

adaptive

systemsorder

Implications of Cell Lineages

as Complex Adaptive Systems

The price of adaptation,

i.e. of LIFE,

is DEATH

Implications of Cell Lineages

as Complex Adaptive Systems

Hierarchies of complex systems…

Implications of Cell Lineages

as Complex Adaptive Systems

Hierarchies of complex systems…

thing vs. phenomena

depends on scale of observation

ChRISTOPHER SWANN

Hierarchies of complex systems…

thing vs. phenomena

depends on scale of observation

=> COMPLEMENTARITY

Theise. Nature, May 2006

Theise & Kafatos, Complexity, 2013

Wisdom

A complexity primer

The universe as self organizing system

Communities

Bodies

Cells

e.g. cities, cultures, ecosystems, Gaia

Bodies

Cells

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Biomolecules

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Biomolecules

Atoms

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Biomolecules

Atoms

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Biomolecules

Atoms

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Biomolecules

Atoms

We are walking, talking Earth…

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Biomolecules

Atoms

Subatomic Particles

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Biomolecules

Atoms

Subatomic Particles

Strings (or whatever)

Communities

Bodies

Cells

Biomolecules

Atoms

Subatomic Particles

Strings (or whatever)

The Quantum Foam

Physiology of yogic healing 1.0

A complexity primer

The universe as self organizing system

Fundamental Awareness and implications

We don’t live in the universe . . .

. . . we are the universe

The Relative

The Absolute

Implications of Everything

as Complex Adaptive System

1. “thingness” is dependent on scale

Theise ND, Tricycle 2006

Theise ND & Kafatos MC, 20016

Implications of Everything

as Complex Adaptive System

1. Emptiness of inherent existence

Theise ND, Tricycle 2006

Theise ND & Kafatos MC, 20016

Implications of Everything

as Complex Adaptive System

1. Emptiness of inherent existence

2. Inevitable mass extinction

Theise ND, Tricycle 2006

Theise ND & Kafatos MC, 20016

Implications of Everything

as Complex Adaptive System

1. Emptiness of inherent existence

2. Impermanence

Theise ND, Tricycle 2006

Theise ND & Kafatos MC, 20016

Implications of Everything

as Complex Adaptive System

1. Emptiness of inherent existence

2. Impermanence

3. Systems depend on EVERY member

Theise ND, Tricycle 2006

Theise ND & Kafatos MC, 20016

Implications of Everything

as Complex Adaptive System

1. Emptiness of inherent existence

2. Impermanence

3. Interdependence

Theise ND, Tricycle 2006

Theise ND & Kafatos MC, 20016

Implications of Everything

as Complex Adaptive System

1. Emptiness of inherent existence

2. Impermanence

3. Interdependence

4. The fact of emergence is predictable,

the nature of it is not.

Implications of Everything

as Complex Adaptive System

1. Emptiness of inherent existence

2. Impermanence

3. Interdependence

4. Karmic law (cause and effect)

Wisdom

A complexity primer

The universe as self organizing system

Fundamental Awareness and implications

Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)

Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)

Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)

Molecules

Atoms

Subatomic Particles

Quantum Foam

Quantum Vacuum

Fundamental Awareness: A Framework for Integrating

Science, Philosophy and Metaphysics

with

Menas C. Kafatos, PhD

Published in Communicative and Integrative Biology 2017

Buddhism on Nature of Existence:

Emptiness of inherent existence, interdependence, impermanence

Buddhism on Nature of Existence:

Emptiness of inherent existence, interdependence, impermanence

Ground of Being = Rigpa, or the Mind of Clear light

Buddhism on Nature of Existence:

Emptiness of inherent existence, interdependence, impermanence

Ground of Being = Rigpa, or the Mind of Clear light

Described as: “reflexively self-aware primordial wisdom”

and “the ultimate substratum of the ‘mind stream’”

and “awareness of awareness”

Buddhism on Nature of Existence:

Emptiness of inherent existence, interdependence, impermanence

Ground of Being = Rigpa, or the Mind of Clear light

“The subtlest level of mental activity (Mind), whichcontinues with no beginning and no end, withoutany break, even during death and even intoBuddhahood. It is individual and constitutes themental continuum of each Being. It is naturally freeof conceptual cognition, the appearance-making oftrue existence, and grasping for true existence,since it is more subtle than the grosser levels ofmental activity with which these occur. It is namedthe Light “

Alexander Berzin 2006

Buddhism on Nature of Existence:

Emptiness of inherent existence, interdependence, impermanence

Ground of Being = Rigpa, or the Mind of Clear light

Three Aspects:1. The essential nature of rigpa: primal purity.

Rigpa is primordial without stains, both being self-void and other-void;

2. The influencing nature of rigpa: the manner in which rigpa influences others. Rigpa is responsiveness. It responds effortlesslyand spontaneously to others with compassion;

3. The functional nature of rigpa: rigpa effortlessly and spontaneously establishes "appearances."

Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)

Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)

Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)

Molecules

Atoms

Subatomic Particles

Quantum Foam

Quantum Vacuum

PURE AWARENESS – AWARENESS OF AWARENESS

Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)

Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)

Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)

Molecules

Atoms

Subatomic Particles

Quantum Foam

Quantum Vacuum

PURE AWARENESS – AWARENESS OF AWARENESS

dd

Dd

dd

Ishwara/Atman

Brahman/Paramasiva

Highest level composites (Gaia, galaxies, etc)

Composite structures (bodies, stars/planets, etc)

Structures (cells, solids, fluids, etc.)

Molecules

Atoms

Subatomic Particles

Strings (or whatever)

Fundamental Awareness

Philosophy

Plato

Spinoza

Hegel

Kant

Godel

Whitehead

Contemporary

Science

Relativity

Quantum

Mechanics

Self Organizing

Systems

Metaphysics

Vedanta

Buddhism

Kabbalah

Shaivism

Shamanism

Descartes

Vienna

Circle

Newtonian

Mechanics

Wisdom

A complexity primer

The universe as self organizing system

Fundamental Awareness and implications

Compassion

Wisdom

Wisdom

Compassion

Boundaries are where one gives and one receives.

In the realm of the boundless, there is nothing to give and nothing to receive

Boundaries are where one gives and one receives.

In the realm of the boundless, there is nothing to give and nothing to receive

“No cell, no self…”Roshi Joan Halifax

Who are we?

Manjushri asks Vimalakirti,

"How does the bodhisattva regard living beings?“

Vimalakirti replies,

"As a conjurer looks on the beings he conjures up, thus does the

bodhisattva regard living beings. As the wise view the moon in the

water, or a face or form seen in a mirror; as shimmers of heat in a

torrid season, as foam on the water….as the tracks of a bird in the

sky, as sights in a dream after one has wakened…“

Vimalakirti Sutra

Manjushri asks Vimalakirti,

"How does the bodhisattva regard living beings?“

Vimalakirti replies,

"As a conjurer looks on the beings he conjures up, thus does the

bodhisattva regard living beings. As the wise view the moon in the

water, or a face or form seen in a mirror; as shimmers of heat in a

torrid season, as foam on the water….as the tracks of a bird in the

sky, as sights in a dream after one has wakened…“

Vimalakirti Sutra

Manjushri asks Vimalakirti,

"How does the bodhisattva regard living beings?“

Vimalakirti replies,

"As a conjurer looks on the beings he conjures up, thus does the

bodhisattva regard living beings. As the wise view the moon in the

water, or a face or form seen in a mirror; as shimmers of heat in a

torrid season, as foam on the water….as the tracks of a bird in the

sky, as sights in a dream after one has wakened…“

Vimalakirti Sutra

Manjushri asks Vimalakirti,

"How does the bodhisattva regard living beings?“

Vimalakirti replies,

"As a conjurer looks on the beings he conjures up, thus does the

bodhisattva regard living beings. As the wise view the moon in the

water, or a face or form seen in a mirror; as shimmers of heat in a

torrid season, as foam on the water….as the tracks of a bird in the

sky, as sights in a dream after one has wakened…“

Vimalakirti Sutra

Manjushri asks Vimalakirti,

"How does the bodhisattva regard living beings?“

Vimalakirti replies,

"As a conjurer looks on the beings he conjures up, thus does the

bodhisattva regard living beings. As the wise view the moon in the

water, or a face or form seen in a mirror; as shimmers of heat in a

torrid season, as foam on the water….as the tracks of a bird in the

sky, as sights in a dream after one has wakened…“\

Vimalakirti Sutra

Manjushri asks Vimalakirti,

"How does the bodhisattva regard living beings?“

Vimalakirti replies,

"As a conjurer looks on the beings he conjures up, thus does the

bodhisattva regard living beings. As the wise view the moon in the

water, or a face or form seen in a mirror; as shimmers of heat in a

torrid season, as foam on the water….as the tracks of a bird in the

sky, as sights in a dream after one has wakened…

Vimalakirti Sutra

Manjushri asks Vimalakirti,

"How does the bodhisattva regard living beings?“

Vimalakirti replies,

"As a conjurer looks on the beings he conjures up, thus does the

bodhisattva regard living beings. As the wise view the moon in the

water, or a face or form seen in a mirror; as shimmers of heat in a

torrid season, as foam on the water….as the tracks of a bird in the

sky, as sights in a dream after one has wakened…

Vimalakirti Sutra

Manjushri asks Vimalakirti,

"How does the bodhisattva regard living beings?“

Vimalakirti replies,

"As a conjurer looks on the beings he conjures up, thus does the

bodhisattva regard living beings. As the wise view the moon in the

water, or a face or form seen in a mirror; as shimmers of heat in a

torrid season, as foam on the water….as the tracks of a bird in the

sky, as sights in a dream after one has wakened…

So does a bodhisattva regard living beings.”

Vimalakirti Sutra