I recently finished reading Eben Alexander’s book entitled “Proof of Heaven.” See http://www.lifebeyonddeath.net/.  Several people have asked me for my thoughts when I finished. So here’s my take.

I thought the book had some good insights on near death experiences (NDEs), and I enjoyed reading about his encounter with bacterial meningitis.  Eben mentions how rare these cases are, but I had this happen to one of my own clients.  Several years ago, my client called me from his cell phone just before the airplane doors closed.  We were trying to finish up his patent application.  He told me he would call when he landed, but he never did.  I tried calling him for several days but couldn’t get an answer.  I finally received a call from his family lawyer asking if I knew whether he had a will.  I was shocked.  Unfortunately, his recovery was not like Eben’s, and he was confined to a wheelchair, also suffering significant memory loss.

That aside, I did enjoy reading about Eben’s journey while he was in a coma.  His experience was common to many and reveals what it may be like once you leave this life (although I’m not convinced NDEs tell you much about the next life because it is usually just for a few hours, not like months or years.  It’s kind of like going to Estes Park and thinking you’ve seen Lake Odessa in Rocky Mountain National Park–you’ve got to hoof it in there to see the real beauty).  I thought the real value of the book was stated at the end where he said, “The universe is so constructed that to truly understand any part of its many dimensions and levels, you have to become part of that dimension.  Or, stated a little more accurately, you have to open yourself to an identity with that part of the universe that you already possess, but which you may not have been conscious of.”

I often chuckle when I see people preoccupied in living life so as to “enhance” their status in the next life.  If you are waiting until the next life to experience heaven—whatever that may be—I think you are really missing out on the beauty of this life.  You can experience heaven right now if you can place yourself beyond ordinary living.  So for that, I have to completely agree with Eben.  Don’t wait for heaven or you might just miss it.