What If E.T. Was Actually a Hungry Ghost? A Buddhist Take on Alien Encounters

Remember that heartwarming scene where E.T. extends his glowing finger? What if I told you that according to Buddhist cosmology, Hollywood might have accidentally depicted something that's been in ancient texts for thousands of years — not an alien, but a being from another realm entirely?

The Beings We Can't Usually See

In Buddhism, there's a whole category of beings called "pret" (เปรต) or hungry ghosts. These aren't your typical Halloween spooks. They're beings existing in a parallel dimension that occasionally bleeds into ours. And when you look at their characteristics, things get eerily familiar:

Pret characteristics:

• Thin, elongated bodies (sound familiar?)

• Large heads with big eyes

• Glowing or translucent appearance

• Can sometimes be seen by humans under special circumstances

• Desperately seeking something they can't have (E.T. phone home, anyone?)

Starting to see the connection?

The Interdimensional Overlap Theory

Here's where Buddhist cosmology gets mind-bending. The pret realm isn't on another planet — it's right here, occupying the same space as our world, just on a different frequency. Think of it like radio stations: We're on 101.5 FM, and prets are on 98.7 FM. Normally, we can't tune into their frequency, but sometimes... the signals cross.

Buddhist texts describe how certain conditions can make these beings visible:

• During twilight hours (when E.T. was most active)

• To people with heightened sensitivity (like children — hello, Elliott!)

• In places with specific energy patterns

• When someone is in an altered state of consciousness

The Hunger That Drives Them

The word "pret" literally relates to departed beings who are driven by intense hunger or desire. In Buddhist cosmology, they're beings who lived selfishly and are now stuck in a realm where they can never satisfy their cravings.

Now think about E.T.'s story arc:

• Desperately trying to "go home" (unfulfilled desire)

• Forming an intense bond with a human child (seeking connection they lack)

• Having unusual abilities that seem supernatural

• Eventually transcending their physical form

It's almost like Spielberg accidentally created a modern pret narrative.

Why Children See Them First

Buddhist texts have always maintained that children are more likely to perceive beings from other realms. Why? Their minds haven't yet been conditioned to filter out what adults consider "impossible." They haven't built up the mental barriers that block perception of subtle realms.

This isn't just spiritual mumbo-jumbo. Even modern psychology acknowledges that children perceive the world differently, often reporting experiences that adults dismiss. In Buddhist terms, their "mind's eye" is still open.

The Glowing Finger Phenomenon

One of the most iconic elements — E.T.'s glowing finger — has parallels in Buddhist descriptions of pret abilities. These beings are said to have certain supernatural powers, including:

• Emitting light from their bodies

• Healing abilities (though limited)

• Telepathic communication

• The ability to influence physical objects

Sound like any alien you know?

The Real Kicker: Going Home

In Buddhism, prets are stuck in their realm due to their karma, desperately wanting to move on but unable to until they work through their karmic debt. The theme of "going home" isn't about returning to a physical planet — it's about transcending to a better realm of existence.

When E.T. finally "goes home," ascending in that bright light, it mirrors the Buddhist concept of beings moving from lower to higher realms once they've resolved their karmic connections.

Modern Sightings Through Ancient Lens

This perspective opens up fascinating questions about modern "alien" encounters:

• Are some UFO sightings actually glimpses of beings from parallel realms?

• Why do so many "alien" encounters involve beings asking for help or seeming lost?

• Why do these encounters often have spiritual or transformative effects on witnesses?

Buddhist cosmology has been describing interdimensional beings for over 2,500 years. Maybe our modern interpretation of "aliens from other planets" is just our scientific age's way of explaining encounters that ancient traditions understood differently.

The Bottom Line

I'm not saying Spielberg studied Buddhist texts before making E.T. (though that would be cool). But the similarities between E.T.'s characteristics and Buddhist descriptions of prets are uncanny. Maybe our collective unconscious holds memories of these interdimensional encounters, and they surface in our art and stories.

Next time you watch E.T., try viewing it through this lens. Is it a story about an alien from another planet, or a tale of a hungry ghost seeking redemption and release? The finger-touch scene might just be the moment when two different realms of existence briefly connect.

And if that doesn't blow your mind, consider this: According to Buddhism, there are beings in multiple realms all around us right now. We just can't see them.

But sometimes, on very special occasions, one might eat Reese's Pieces in your closet.

Phone home, indeed. 👻🛸

References in Thai:

• https://kalyanamitra.org/th/article_detail.php?i=10525 (ชีวิตเปรต)

• https://kalyanamitra.org/th/article_detail.php?i=8397 (ชนิดของเปรต)

• https://kalyanamitra.org/th/article_detail.php?i=10526 (สาเหตุที่ไปเกิดเป็นเปรต)

• https://www.dmc.tv/article/15979 (beings on different planets exist, EP 1) 

• https://www.dmc.tv/article/11958 (beings on different planets exist, EP 2)