Adam Frank: Alien Civilizations and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

[mccoy]

I strongly advise to listen to the following conversation with the theoretical physicist Adam Frank. the podcast is very long, but it can be listened to while driving (myself) or walking in Bogotà (Steve) or doing other things like working out (Weboflife).
It is also on Spotify, without annoying ads.
Frank speaks about the evolution of planet Earth and the present knowledge on exoplanets, planets observed outside our solar system. With an estimate number of 20 billion trillion exoplanets in the habitable zone in the universe, he underlines how the mathematical probability that some of such exoplanets developed lifeforms as happened here on earth is overwhelmingly high. He illustrates how to figure out if there are distant civilizations and what is the level of scientific evolution. An incredible explanation that includes the Drake equation and the Femi paradox, two pillars of this topic. In the end, it turns out he practices Buddhist meditation!
Again, a superlative episode of the Lex Friedman podcast, not to be missed, expounded in rigorous scientific but understandable concepts.

[weboflife]

Thanks McCoy, I will listen to it. I laughed at your summary of when each of us will read it. I walk my dog for up to 2 hours each day. And I drive a lot too. So I have choices. Not just a fitness freak, my friend! 

I had my first and only encounter with a UFO a few years ago. I have it on my phone but not so clear. There is a flight zone over my house for planes flying down to the islands south of us, including Tasmania. One evening around 8 pm I thought I was watching a plane fly overhead. Its lights were flashing rhythmically just like a plane and it was about the same height as planes tend to be here, flying in a straight line. All of a sudden it began doing aerial acrobatics, moving in impossible turns at impossible speeds.
I watched for several minutes quite stunned. I went in to get my phone half expecting it to be gone when I got back out but it was still in the sky, almost mocking me.
I told the story to a couple of people, showed my dodgy footage and realised that silence is the best way forward because some things are just best left to lay. But for the sake of this site I offer this as a genuine encounter of something otherwise quite unexplainable.

[mccoy]

I told the story to a couple of people, showed my dodgy footage and realised that silence is the best way forward because some things are just best left to lay. But for the sake of this site I offer this as a genuine encounter of something otherwise quite unexplainable.

I have listened to recounts similar to yours, even a reliable US air force pilot interviewed by Joe Rogan. Frank explains why such observations cannot constitute evidence, for many reasons. The object may also have a terrestrial origin.

[weboflife]

If the technology exists to support an aircraft doing what I was witness to then it remains very much held under lock and key. Incredible speeds from one part of the sky to another in the flash of an eye. The craft was mimicking a plane for quite some time before it began its crazy display. I have no answers and to be honest I don't need any. I'm much more curious about the kingdom within. All else is part of the show, though it is or can be very enthralling. I don't doubt the existence of higher forms of intelligence within this universe. If they do observe us then it doesn't surprise that they leave us alone. God is the cook, this is His cauldron, why spoil the recipe?

[mccoy]

I understand your attitude, and mine is agnosticism. Aliens may or may not be around the earth, but since there is no outstanding evidence, it's like they were not here. It may be that there is some reason, it may be that we want to believe that they are here.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

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[Jitendra Hydonus]

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I’m glad that you guys have a mutual interest. My view is that there is enough evidence of alien life and since I witnessed what Web has already seen I do not have to be convinced.  After all even Paramahansa Yogananda showed a devotee of his that there is much  alien activity and spoke of human lives on different planets that suited the present evolution of their souls.

[mccoy]

After all even Paramahansa Yogananda showed a devotee of his that there is much alien activity and spoke of human lives on different planets that suited the present evolution of their souls.

Where did you find that? I don't remember such details...

[Jitendra Hydonus]

For your benefit I will attempt to find the sources. Although sometimes I heard such stories from going to SRF lectures. I one such account Paramahansa Yogananda took a devotee to the desert because of his fascination for UFOs. When there the guru and the devotee witnessed a sky full of UFOs and he told the devotee that his curiosity has been satisfied so to attempt to now satisfy his spiritual aspirations.

After all even Paramahansa Yogananda showed a devotee of his that there is much alien activity and spoke of human lives on different planets that suited the present evolution of their souls.

Where did you find that? I don't remember such details...

[weboflife]

Lots of ancient tribal art painted on caves, European art and other examples can be given that depicts UFO's visiting Earth. So many sightings over the years also by very sane and even highly respected people cannot be ignored. UFO's are real but there is always the truth that people believe what they want to believe. So many saints, so many shamans and others have testified to the presence of the spiritual realm. Many at SRF including run of the mill devotees know the spiritual realm is real, but so what. Gyanamata said to prove the existence of God on a material level is a akin to a husband trying to use mathematics in proving the love for his wife. It can't happen. And to most the idea of a personal search for God is at best useless, at worst insane.

Signs and wonders point to both the existence of God and the existence of higher beings that visit our planet in amazing craft. I don't know the reason for the UFO's coming here, observation seems the most likely. But we don't have to accept these things for our spiritual search, what matters is within and that's why I chose not to get hung up on what I saw. It coincided with a big uplift in my spiritual efforts and that's where the jewels are to be found.

[mccoy]

Signs and wonders point to both the existence of God and the existence of higher beings that visit our planet in amazing craft. I don't know the reason for the UFO's coming here, observation seems the most likely. But we don't have to accept these things for our spiritual search, what matters is within and that's why I chose not to get hung up on what I saw. It coincided with a big uplift in my spiritual efforts and that's where the jewels are to be found.

Wise words.

Based on pure Jnana, my reasoning is that , as Adam Frank says, presently there is no scientific evidence of UFOs visiting our planet. Absence of evidence of course is not evidence of absence.

But all those pictures (most of them are fakes), recounts, and hearsay, have no value on the objective plane. Conceptual reasoning and assigning degrees of probability is one thing.
Hard evidence, 100% or even 99% probability is another.

Steve, As to the quotes from Yogananda, many things have been misquoted or even distorted. If coming from an official printed SRF material, that's a certain reference. If coming from talks of his direct disciples, it is also acceptable. If coming from personal words from Bakhtananda to you, then it is also acceptable, providing you are remembering well.

If coming from other sources, well, with all due respect, there are even people who use the name of great masters to illustrate their own personal views, unfortunately we all have a certain age, we know that and are not so naive to believe everyone.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

I really think the importance of other life forms form the rest of our universe is quite important because it gives an explanation for many of the wonders in the world archaeologically, historically and culturally. and It explains many of the innovations in technology today that are masked by corporate greed. We could be much further along if it were not for the greed of individuals and groups of people who have suppressed the obvious. I have given evidence for the revolution of technology and the wisdom associated with other planetary denizens since the origins of this site. They have come from monastics, friends, professionals and television hosts. I will continue to do so and will quote from Paramahansa Yogananda’s books when I see such quotes here on line again or when I am able to read some of the Masters words again; I am currently out of reach of such references because I’m away from my home country.

There are many wonders that people have experienced and others have not. All we have to do is read the Autobiography of a Yogi to recognize that. Let us keep an open mind to the facts and miracles surrounding us and then our skepticism will slowly be dispelled. Knowing that there are other beings from other parts of the universe among us could be one of the most singular advances for the human race.