How I Know That God Exists

Here is a description of two events that occurred near the beginning of my active spiritual search that convinced me of the existence of a divine intelligence:

1. More than 30 years ago, when I was an agnostic, I began experiencing panic attacks that eventually drove me to the brink of suicide. Desperate to spare my wife and two young children any further pain, I prayed, not to the judgmental God of my childhood, but to the “creative force” responsible for my being on earth. Shortly after, I lay on my bed, not expecting any help, and gave up. My young daughter suddenly entered the bedroom, jumped on my back and called out “Daddy”. At that instant, I was transformed. I could literally feel a huge weight being lifted off of my shoulders, as all of my fear and panic disappeared. I remained in that state of complete and utter peace for about 15 hours. My panic returned as soon as I started questioning why I was feeling so peaceful. This was extremely depressing, but I now knew there was help to be had beyond my own ego.
2. A few months later, I flew home for a visit with my parents and siblings. Upon arrival, I was distressed to realize that I had somehow forgotten to bring my medication (for anxiety and depression). Late that evening, I sat alone at the kitchen table, reading the chapter called “Love” from the book All That You Are (by the anonymous author Mary), which my sister had loaned me. I thought about the incident described above, as well as other “coincidences” I had experienced, and I suddenly came to the unmistakable conclusion that God was real and God loved me. As soon as I realized this, I felt an exquisite energy (like an electric current) spring from the base of my spine, travel up my backbone, and seemingly emerge through the top of my head. This energy built and built in successive waves, until I was in a state of complete and utter ecstasy. I was basking in divine love, and I felt a tremendous love for God in return. I felt God’s intimate presence, and I considered the possibility that God could appear at any moment. However, the possibility of “seeing” God created some anxiety, and the ecstatic current gradually subsided. Although I was somewhat sad when the experience ended, I knew that I was forever changed. My panic was gone, never to return. Later, I learned that I had undergone a “Kundalini awakening”. Indeed, Kundalini was to play a central role in my subsequent spiritual development, including several more experiences providing further proof of God.