Eben Alexander III (born December, 1953 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is an American neurosurgeon, who has taught at Harvard Medical School and other universities.

In the book Proof of Heaven, he describes his 2008 near-death experience and asserts that science can and will determine that heaven really does exist.

In this book the author recounts his near-death experience (NDE) during a meningitis-induced coma. He says that he was encountering the reality of a world of consciousness that existed completely free of limitation of his physical brain.  He adds, that the death of the body and the brain are not the end of consciousness.  The human experience continues beyond the grave under the gaze of God who loves and cares about each one of us.

After describing the onset of the illness he continues by sharing what he saw during the seven days in the coma.  He also tells the readers the actions and feelings from family members and friends during this time.

In the ninth chapter he tells us that he was able to instantly and effortlessly understand concepts that would have taken him years to grasp.  He puts into words concepts and feelings that are explained in works written by theosophists. For example, the existence of more than one universe and of higher beings. He further mentions more than once that Love is the basis of everything.

In addition he says that science, to which he has devoted to much of his life – does not contradict what he has learned “up there”.

For him the unconditional love and acceptance that he experienced was the single most important discovery.

In chapter fifteen he discusses the concept of consciousness and why we forget our trans-earthly identities.  He also points out that the physical side of the universe is a speck of dust compared to the invisible and spiritual part. He further explains that free will comes at the cost of a loss or falling-away from the universal love in which the universe is “literally awash” but that our truest, deepest self is completely free.

He adds that our role here is to grow toward the Divine, and that growth is closely watched by the beings in the worlds above (compare with The Heart of the Soul).

Our eternal spiritual self is more real than anything we perceive in this physical realm, and has a divine connection to the infinite love of the Creator. In his words, this journey was not only about love,  but it was also about who we are and how connected we all are – the very meaning of all existence (compare with Overview Effect).