Tag: faith

The Dog, the Dream, and the Determination: A Lesson from Sylvester Stallone’s Life

Posted on by Tavamithram Sarvada

$40, a Dog, and a Dream – The Sylvester Stallone Story

My First Hero

My first hero in life is my courageous and adventurous beloved father. He gave me more than just his genes – he passed on his unyielding spirit, his drive to push forward no matter the odds, his boldness to walk paths no one else dared, and his deeply compassionate heart that never turned away someone in need. He shaped the way I saw life – with resilience, strength, and the confidence that I could rise above even the darkest moments to reach heights I once thought were beyond me.

The Inspiration That Shaped a Generation

When Rocky I hit the screens, I had just entered my teens. Like countless others around the world, I was captivated. I grew up inspired by the unforgettable roles Sylvester Stallone played in his films, particularly in his two most successful series ‘Rocky‘ and ‘Rambo‘ – each one a celebration of courage, grit, and a never-say-die spirit.

This moving story about Stallone and his dog, Butkus, has always stayed with me. It’s more than a story – it’s a timeless life lesson in loyalty, sacrifice, and self-confidence.

Sylvester Stallone: The Man Who Bought Back His Soul

From Rock Bottom to Rocky – $40, a Dog, and a Dream

In the early 1970s, a broke and struggling Sylvester Stallone was living in a tiny New York apartment with little more than ragged clothes, a typewriter, and his loyal bullmastiff, Butkus. The dog was his only comfort – a companion who loved him unconditionally through his darkest days.

But as hunger gnawed and desperation grew, Stallone made a soul-crushing decision: he sold Butkus for just $40 to a stranger outside a liquor store. He later described it as one of the lowest moments of his life – like selling a piece of his own heart.

Then came a spark of inspiration. After watching the Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner fight, Stallone poured his energy into writing Rocky in a furious three-day sprint. Studio after studio loved the script but rejected him as the lead actor. Stallone stood firm – he was Rocky and wouldn’t sell the story unless he could play the part.

Eventually, producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff agreed. They offered him a modest $1 million budget and the role of a lifetime.

The Price of Loyalty

The moment Stallone received his first pay cheque, he set out to find Butkus. The man who had bought the dog now knew who Stallone was. Rocky was making waves. The man demanded $15,000 for the dog’s return. Without blinking, Stallone paid it.

Butkus didn’t just come home – he stepped into history. The dog appeared in Rocky I and Rocky II, symbolising the real-life loyalty and perseverance that had brought Stallone through his darkest days.

By 1977, Rocky had won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It was more than just a film – it was the echo of Stallone’s own life, his battles, and his unyielding belief in himself.

My final thoughts

Buying back Butkus wasn’t just about reclaiming a dog. It was a bold declaration that no matter how far you fall, your dreams, your sense of loyalty, and your self-worth are worth fighting for. It was about knowing that even in your darkest hour, you can rise again and reclaim what you may have lost – not just through misfortune, but perhaps through your own mistakes, misjudgements, or desperate decisions – by holding on to your self-respect, values, principles, and all that truly matters.

Let this true story remind us all:
Your lowest point may be the start of your greatest triumph.

Born by Chance, Fooled by Belief

Posted on by Tavamithram Sarvada

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Unravelling the Illusion of Fate in a Stochastic Universe

Many people believe there’s a ‘grand plan’ behind everything—a higher power or force shaping events through fate, destiny, or divine will. This belief often leads us to surrender a significant portion of our mental capacity and autonomy to things we cannot fully prove: unseen beings, sacred books, religious intermediaries, and abstract concepts. But what if this comforting story is merely a creation we’ve been telling ourselves for centuries? Even more troubling is that such beliefs breed a sense of entitlement, creating divisions among individuals, fostering inequality, envy, jealousy, and belligerence—forces that ultimately damage lives, relationships, and our natural world.

In this short presentation, I confront the illusion of fate head-on. Let us examine the stochastic nature of existence—not through superstition or sentiment, but through reason, science, and Vedanta. From the genetic lottery you were born into, to the subtle conditioning shaped by environment and epigenetics, you’ll see how much of your life has just happened. No blueprint. No cosmic purpose. No invisible puppeteer.

Let us question why religions and mythologies have always tried to impose order upon chaos, and why fatalism is just another form of resignation. I present Karma not as divine justice, but simply as cause and effect. Actions and consequences, not punishments and rewards.

And yet, this isn’t a descent into nihilism. Far from it.

To embrace randomness is to reject the passive comfort of fate and to step into clarity. Life doesn’t need a script to have meaning. Meaning arises not from predestination, but from conscious living in an unpredictable world.

This presentation is for the quietly curious, the disillusioned believer, the sceptic, the philosopher—and anyone ready to ask: What if chance isn’t your enemy, but your liberation?

Haven’t you completed the Srimad Bhagavad Gita yet? Here is your solution:

The Complete Srimad Bhagavad Gita – Explained Simply | No Confusion, Only Clarity!

Blind Belief: The Lazy Man’s presumed ‘Shortcut to Spirituality’

Posted on by Tavamithram Sarvada

Vedanta ‘MIND LAUNDRY’

The other day, I was speaking with an old friend when the conversation turned to the tragic stampede at the Kumbh Mela in February 2025 and the official reports highlighting severe faecal contamination in the very waters where thousands had taken ‘holy’ dips. My friend took offence at my remarks and became almost aggressive and confrontational. He insisted that people have the right to their beliefs and that I had no business questioning them.

I want to highlight two important points here:

  1. My friend, like many others, fails to recognise that while he demands respect for people’s beliefs, there are also those who do not subscribe to such beliefs—and they, too, have a right to their views.
  2. My argument was never about belief itself, but about the reckless endangerment of thousands of lives and the pollution of a river they themselves deem ‘holy’ with faecal contamination!

The issue with my friend remains unresolved! So, my old friend is willing to risk our friendship over this thing called belief! Christopher Hitchens rightly said that religion poisons everything.

The most crucial point, however, is that in Advaita Vedanta—the highest attainment on the Vedic path known as Sanatana Dharma—there is no concept of belief. It is a path of knowledge, direct experience, and realisation, not blind faith.

Yet, many continue to follow irrational beliefs and rituals without questioning their origins or validity. These inherited practices are often carried out simply because they are part of tradition, with little thought given to their purpose. How often do people stop to ask: Why am I doing this? Does it make sense?

To encourage critical thinking and deeper reflection, I am reposting two videos that examine the absurdity of beliefs and rituals. These videos challenge the notion that faith alone is enough, exposing how unquestioned traditions shape societies and hinder individuals from seeking true knowledge.

Vedanta emphasises reason and self-inquiry. Instead of surrendering to superstition, one must strive to understand reality as it is, not as it is imagined or dictated by blind faith. True wisdom lies in breaking free from irrational dogmas and seeing the world with clarity.

Unfortunately, as laziness is easier and more comfortable than using our brains and thinking critically, most people prefer the easier route of blindly believing things rather than questioning, studying, and researching.

I invite you to watch these videos with an open mind and reflect on the impact of unquestioned beliefs in your own life.

Newspaper article regarding the pollution of the river Ganga:
“High levels of faecal coliform (microbes from human and animal excreta) were found in river water in which people took holy dip during Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj of Uttar Pradesh, according to a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal by the Central Pollution Control Board.”

https://newsth.live/8g6mIp