A TadEkam Sadhana Smriti — Alefiya Rangwala
By Alefiya Rangwala
TadEkam Sadhak, Sevika & Teacher • Reiki & Meditation Teacher • Channel of Guruji Naushir since 2004
There are moments in life when everything seems to fall apart, and then there are moments that quietly begin to put everything back together. For me, that moment came in 2004, when I met my Guruji.
When Everything Fell Apart, and Then Began to Heal
I was going through one of the most challenging phases of my life. Outwardly, I appeared to be managing. Within, I felt lost, anxious, emotionally drained. Looking back today, I can say with complete conviction that meeting Guruji was one of the greatest blessings of my life. It was not simply the beginning of my spiritual journey — it was the beginning of my transformation.
Under his guidance, what started as curiosity gradually became a way of life. I had the privilege of attending the Breaking Boundaries – Reiki Programme, meditation retreats, and several advanced spiritual programmes taught by Him. In time, I was blessed to become both a Reiki and a meditation teacher myself. Every experience, every teaching, every moment spent in his presence deepened my understanding — not merely of spirituality, but of life itself.
From Deity to Living Consciousness
Before meeting Guruji, Shiva was simply a deity I had known since childhood. Through Guruji’s teachings, I discovered Shiva as a living consciousness — a boundless source of love, stillness, and transformation. Festivals like Navratri and Mahashivratri were no longer merely dates upon a calendar. They became deeply sacred experiences. Celebrating them with the TadEkam family, praying together, expressing gratitude, immersing ourselves in devotion — all of it gave these occasions a meaning I had never known before. They became moments of profound spiritual connection.
The Sadhana That Reshaped Me
Yet the most beautiful transformation happened within me. Let me be entirely honest — this journey was not easy. None of us likes to be told that we need to change — that our thinking, our reactions, our tone, our habits, even the way we see the world, needs to be transformed. There were times when Guruji’s guidance felt difficult to accept, because it challenged the very parts of me I had grown comfortable with. It was bitter, at times. But I chose to trust the process.
Did I change overnight? Not at all. I stumbled, I resisted, I repeated the same mistakes more times than I would like to admit. But life has a beautiful way of bringing back the lessons we are meant to learn. Sometimes Guruji would remind me directly. Sometimes the message arrived through friends or well-wishers. And sometimes, life’s toughest moments became my greatest teachers, gently nudging me back onto the path each time I drifted away. Looking back, I now realise that every difficult lesson was, in truth, an act of compassion — patiently shaping me into a better version of myself.
From Blaming the World to Understanding Myself
Sadhana slowly shifted my perspective — from blaming the world to understanding myself. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” I began asking, “What is life trying to teach me? Where can I grow? How am I contributing to this situation?” That subtle shift changed the way I looked at every challenge that came my way.
Over the years, I learned to let go of comparison, jealousy, resentment, and unrealistic expectations. I became more aware of my thoughts, my emotions, my reactions, and the patterns that had long held me back. I learned the power of forgiveness, the courage to say no without guilt, and the wisdom to protect my own peace.
“A happy life begins when we learn to ignore what doesn’t matter, and let go of what we cannot control.” — Guruji Naushir
These teachings transformed not only my inner world, but also my relationships — with my family, my husband, my in-laws, my friends, my colleagues, and, most importantly, with myself. They taught me that spirituality is not about withdrawing from life. It is about embracing life with far greater awareness, compassion, acceptance, and balance.
Still a Work in Progress
I am still a work in progress, and I know I have a long way to go. Sadhana is not a destination — it is a lifelong journey of becoming. Despite the demands of work and life, I continue my practices as consistently as I can, because they help me reconnect with myself, quiet my mind, and return, again and again, to a place of peace and clarity.
Kangundi — Where Grace Met Grit
One of the most beautiful chapters of this journey unfolded only recently. Under Guruji’s guidance, the Kangundi Seva Project began, and in January this year, the Kangundi Bouldering Festival was organised. Owing to my work commitments, I could not participate in the seva activities themselves, which left me quietly disappointed. But I decided that if I could not serve through those ten days, I would at least visit Kangundi for a single day during the festival.
Little did I know that this one day would become one of the most profound spiritual experiences of my life.
From the moment I arrived, I felt an inexplicable sense of peace. The warmth and simplicity of the villagers, the enthusiasm with which everyone welcomed visitors, the spirit of selfless service woven through every interaction — it made it feel as though divinity itself was present, in every person, every smile, every corner of that village.
I visited the Venugopal Swamy Temple, the Kalikamba Ma Temple, and the Swamy Malleswara Shiva Temple perched atop the majestic Kangundi Inselberg. Each offered its own unique experience of silence, devotion, and grace. But the journey to the Shiva Temple remains etched in my heart forever.
Five Hundred Steps of Faith
When I first heard that reaching the temple meant climbing nearly five hundred steps, I immediately thought of my weak knees. I quietly convinced myself that I would probably stay at the foothills, offer my prayers from there, and perhaps complete a parikrama instead.
But the moment I reached Kangundi, Seema Tai smiled and said, “Are you ready? Quickly, leave now — climb up, take Shivji’s blessings, and come back before lunch. You’ve come all this way — you have to go.”
To many, it may have sounded like a simple suggestion. To me, it felt like a message arriving directly from Guruji — and from Shivji Himself. It was as if they were gently telling me, “You have come this far. Now take the next step. We will take care of the rest.”
Standing at the foothills, I folded my hands and prayed with all my heart. “Shivji, please help me reach you. Let me come to your temple, and receive your blessings.” Then, silently, I prayed to Guruji: “Please be with me. Help me climb these steps without pain, without exhaustion.”
What happened next is something I can never fully explain. I climbed every single step with surprising ease — no struggle, no discomfort, no fear.
At the Summit
Before I quite knew it, I had reached the summit. Standing before the ancient Shiva temple, surrounded by silence and the vastness of nature, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. It was one of those rare moments where words fall entirely short, and only the heart understands. I wanted to stay there forever, soaking in every ounce of that divine energy.
The Descent, and the Grace That Carried Me Down
As we began our descent, reality returned. The moment I took my first step downward, my knee reminded me, at once, of its usual pain. I smiled, and prayed once again: “Guruji, just as you helped me climb up, please help me come down safely too.”
And once again, grace took over. The pain disappeared. I walked down comfortably, without fatigue, without difficulty, and reached the bottom with a heart overflowing with gratitude.
Was it a miracle? Was it faith? Was it the power of prayer? I do not know. All I know is that Kangundi gave me far more than a beautiful memory. It reminded me of something Guruji has taught me throughout these years — that when we surrender completely, life has an incredible way of carrying us through what we believe, in the moment, to be impossible.
A Journey That Awakened the Soul
I returned home that evening feeling lighter, deeply blessed, and immensely grateful. Some journeys strengthen the body. Some nourish the mind. And a few rare ones awaken the soul. For me, Kangundi was one such journey.
When I look back at the person I was in 2004, and the person I am today, I see a journey of healing, grace, and inner awakening. Whatever emotional strength, mental resilience, and spiritual grounding I carry today is deeply rooted in Guruji’s guidance, and in the quiet, patient practice of sadhana
Some blessings are too profound to be expressed in words — they can only be experienced. Meeting Guruji was one such blessing.
My journey of sadhana has shaped me in ways I could never have imagined, and for that, my heart will always be filled with gratitude — to Babaji, to Guruji Naushir, and to every step of this path that continues, still, to unfold.
Alefiya Rangwala
TadEkam Sadhak, Sevika & Teacher
Reiki & Meditation Teacher • Channel of Guruji Naushir since 2004 •
Kangundi Bouldering Festival, January 2026
सेवा भी साधना • साधना ही शक्ती • तद् एकम्
Sewa Bhi Sadhna | Sadhna Hi Shakti | Tad Ekam
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