Me: Then and Now

Perhaps to most people the phrase "time flies" feels more and more true with age. Here I am in 2025, a quarter of the 21st century having flown by unthinkably powerful AI tools such as ChatGPT being household names all across the world such that "digital gods" might be an apt name for them. I was born on the pale blue dot in 1990, which means 35 years has passed since my accouchement and I have, more or less, another 35 years of having the privilege of residing on this Brobdingnagian life-supporting rock. (Or is it? We'll see.) Everything evolves, and so do I. Looking back to my much younger self, I can see quite a significant difference between him and my present self.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

The most striking change I have experienced has to do with my holistic view on life. I grew up becoming a religious bigot who harbored bitter hatred for those not adhering to my deeply held belief. That period of my life was indeed grueling years, filled with continual unsatisfaction and intense stress which rendered me alamort. I could not become my real self and had to suppress the naturality inside me, which would otherwise have entered its anthesis in that timeframe. As odious as this psychological and behavioral phenomenon may seem, I am confident that I have figured out how it managed to grip my being, and others' for that matter, so firmly. The infectious ideological bigotry in human mind could be easily explained by our desire to extinguish fear in the simplest way possible. The problem is what is simple is not necessarily good, and what is simplest is not necessarily best. Science has enabled me to unmask this false thinking. It goes without saying that, as a dinosaur maniac, paleontology is the science that has played a vital role in decimating the pernicious mental illness.

I could almost laugh when thinking about the naivety exhibited by my past self. In my mind, life was destined to be a bed of roses. Justice would eventually prevail, everyone would inevitably reach happiness if they really wanted to, and so on and so forth. As dreamy as this thinking may appear, so far as I can tell, it is not in line with reality. If you are born in a war-torn country, the odds are your well-being will not be as good as those who aren't. Where your parturition takes place is aleatory – it is not something you can choose. You could win the lottery today and go into a coma the next day because some inebriated guy's car ploughs into your unfortunate body. There is just an unending list of things that are outside our control. This is where Stoicism comes into play. This ancient school of philosophy seems to have been gaining traction in recent years, and its popularity is a testament to its efficacy and practicality. While terrible things do happen, we can still (and have to) make the most of it. Focusing only on things within your control and loving the fate handed to you (amor fati) are two examples of Stoic practices and I find them incredibly potent and fulfilling.

"Purpose inherently exists in every human being." This is another thing in my mindset that has become obsolete. From a cosmic point of view, we have no purpose in this world. This may sound overly depressing and can leave us disoriented, but it can be liberating and uplifting instead. Although the universe did not impart purpose to us, we can create our own. Meaning is something that we ourselves determine and not something automatically dealt to us. Here is a profound quote from the extraordinary thinker Osho Rajneesh:

"People wonder why there seems to be no meaning in life. Meaning does not exist a priori. There is no meaning existing in life; one has to create it. Only if you create it will you discover it. It has to be invented first. It is not lying there like a rock, it has to be created like a song. It is not a thing, it is a significance that you bring through your consciousness." - The Book of Understanding: Creating Your Own Path to Freedom

Related to this is my realization of the vague distinction between good and bad. Dwelling in absolutism will not bear real fruit and only result in desperation. Which is better, being an employee or an entrepreneur? Is working as a doctor better than as an accountant? Should you get married or stay single? No one can say that one is absolutely good and the other is absolutely bad. I completely agree with Osho on this matter and I'd like to end this article with another eye-opening quote from the Indian guru:

"People have remained concerned about their acts: Which act is right and which act is wrong? What is good and what is evil? My own understanding is that it is not a question of any particular act. The question is about your psychology.

"When you are total, it is good; and when you are divided, it is evil. Divided you suffer; united, you dance, you sing, you celebrate." - The Book of Understanding: Creating Your Own Path to Freedom

Continue reading

Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know – Book Review

Image source: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81-uDFQ4rpL._SL1500_.jpg

Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know

by Dr Dean Lomax

Wow, wow, wow! What a stupendous book! In an "eggshell", Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know by Dr Dean Lomax is a superlative summary of the dinosaur world, perfect for people who are curious about the prehistoric icons but do not have much time to devote to studying them in depth.

Just like the author's last name – low but max (tongue in cheek) – this book is a paradox. It is very modest in size but contains a wealth of information on dinosaurs, which has been carefully selected such that only the most important is presented (for example, while terminology inevitably exists, it is not overwhelmingly present). Dr Dean Lomax is an exceptionally fine writer; he writes with remarkable clarity and I am really fascinated by his style, which is conversational but engaging and absorbing! It is also evident throughout the book that the British paleontologist is so deeply in love with the subject. His contagious exuberance reminds me of fellow paleontologist Steve Brusatte, the author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, another dinosaurian tour de force.

If you are in a hurry but dying to know more about the dinosaurs, I wholeheartedly recommend Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know by Dr Dean Lomax, a magnificently written and enormously enjoyable piece of dinosaur literature!

Have you read Dinosaurs: 10 Things You Should Know? What is your opinion on this book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Continue reading

A Reflection on Death

My dad has just passed away. At the age of 67, after battling liver cirrhosis for many years, he finally succumbed to the medical condition. My relationship with him would not have been described as best; we had a multiple-year-old feud until recently, when we naturally made it up. One thing I will never forget is the fact that he took me on his motorcycle to Jay Chou's first concert in Jakarta back in 2013, for which I am infinitely grateful. (Thank you, Dad! 🙏🏻💙✨)

My late father, Hendry Budiman, resting in his casket in Husada Funeral Home, Mangga Besar, Jakarta (photo taken on May 1, 2025)

A portrait of my late father, Hendry Budiman (photo taken probably on May 3, 2013)

Despite our not-so-close relationship, I couldn't prevent myself from shedding tears. I think it's perfectly natural for us humans to cry for a deceased person who has been with us for a long time; their departure from life is a natural tearjerker. This was certainly a sad moment for me and my family, and I would like to thank everyone who expressed their love and support during the bereavement period. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

The death of my direct male progenitor has consequently shoved me into a state of reflection. That day would and has come. My father has ceased living in this world, completely losing consciousness and transforming into nonliving matter. This serves as a poignant reminder of the ephemerality of our lives. Our time on this planet is incredibly short, and the clock is continuously ticking, unable to be stopped. Conscious of this fact, we need to get our act together, before it is too late. Sing, dance, travel, smile, play, love, explore, ... the list is endless. Do what you want while time is still available, and relish the present to the fullest because now is the most important moment of all. This is the essence of the Stoic practice of memento mori; the great philosopher Epictetus instructs us to "let death put everything in perspective".

Death can seem odious and petrifying. The thought of having your mind shut down and your existence zapped can certainly drive you nuts! However, if we take a helicopter view of life, we can see it through a completely different lens and stop being neurotic. Dr. Kenneth Lacovara points out in his interview with FRANCE 24 English: "Everybody dies. That's what people do. That's what organisms do." It is just part of the workings of nature. Rather than lamenting this biological phenomenon, I think it is prudent to "celebrate" it as a fact of life. Dwelling in romanticization will bring about more bad than good. Reality will not change through wishful thinking: facing up to it is the only way.

I would like to conclude this article with words from the preeminent guru Osho Rajneesh:

"I do not want life to be taken seriously. Seriousness is a kind of psychological disease. Life has to be a fun. Life has to be a rejoicing, a dance, a song, a love affair. In such a small life, being serious is simply wasting the opportunity. That's what I mean when I said it is a circus; it should be everywhere a circus, and we should turn everything in playfulness. But people are so heavy and long-faces, and so burdened and carrying loads on them. And life is so short, soon you will be reaching to your grave. Before reaching to the grave, have a little dance, a little drink."

Continue reading

The Book of Understanding – Book Review

Image source: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Idafiw3xL.jpg

The Book of Understanding: Creating Your Own Path to Freedom

by Osho

Warning: If you are not open-minded or cannot resist taking offense, do NOT read this book.

The Book of Understanding by Osho is certainly one of the most mind-boggling and thought-provoking books I've ever read. The Indian mystic gracefully explains what understanding really is in lyrical language of his own style. The concept of "Zorba the Buddha" is absolutely fascinating, but this book is much, much, much more than that. Brilliant. Eye-opening. Electrifying. Powerful. Moving. All the same, it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with all of his points. I am completely sure, though, that it is quite impossible to finish reading The Book of Understanding by Osho without taking something home.

Unfortunately, due to local circumstances, I cannot fully express my view on the self-development book in this blog. If you are interested to know more of my thoughts, I would be more than happy to discuss The Book of Understanding by Osho with you personally.

Have you read The Book of Understanding? What is your opinion of this book? Share what you think in the comment section below!

Continue reading

A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth – Book Review

Image source: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71AvU10Q9lL._SL1500_.jpg

A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth: 4.6 Billion Years in 12 Chapters

by Henry Gee

Perhaps, for most people, the word "history" invokes monumental events that have peppered humanity's communal trajectory – the Industrial Revolution, the Second World War, the invention of the internet, etc. That's the upshot of us being so accustomed to peering into life through an infinitesimal lens, which, in a sense, doesn't do justice to the grand scheme of things. A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth by Henry Gee provides an easy, almost cheating-like way to grok life in a vastly larger picture.

As the title says, this book summarizes what has transpired to date in relation to life on our planet. Compressing 4.6 billion years into 12 chapters in 230 pages or so is no mean feat, and the author deserves lavish praise for doing that. A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth is brilliantly "written with style" (as Sunday Times testifies) and emanates a modicum of humor. The fact that this book also projects life in the future is to be celebrated, and, as a dinophile, I love the fact that the author has devoted an appreciable portion of it to discussing the icons of the ancient past.

All that being said, despite the inclusion of timeline diagrams, I wish this book was accompanied with more pictures, as it would help readers with imagination in regard to the points of discussion. What I read is the Kindle version, though, so the paperback and/or hardcover version might feature the visual aids.

All in all, if you are interested in or curious about the history of life on Gaia, including that beyond our own species', it is well worth dedicating a tiny part of your own history/life to reading A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth by Henry Gee.

Have you read A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth? What do you think of this book? Share your opinion in the comment section below!

Continue reading

The Nature of Nature

Having finished chowing down on the exciting action-adventure novel ARK FOUND: An Omega Files Adventure (Book 2) by Rick Chesler, I feel it's time I wrote this article before setting off for my next read by the same author: Luna. I hope the seemingly redundant use of the word "nature" doesn't discourage you from resuming your perusal (I can assure you the title is carefully thought-out).

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

What stimulated me to write this post is something along the lines of people vociferously complaining  about the existence of a video on social media showing the gory depiction of an animal killing and/or eating another animal of a different type. Think about lions hunting a zebra, for instance. (If you'd like to go back much further in time, imagine a Tyrannosaurus assailing a Triceratops in Late Cretaceous North America.) Such things are natural phenomena, and vehemently resenting and detesting them would naturally prompt me to raise my eyebrows.

I understand that such macabre events can make some (or many) flinch, but that's the harsh reality of nature. That's the nature of nature. Lions are predators and carnivores (their dental apparatus is not "designed" for ingesting vegetation) and without consuming flesh, they would simply vanish into thin air. They have evolved this way, and it is not their fault that they have to kill other animals in order to survive. Taking sides is a mind-bending thing to do and can lead to cognitive dissonance. Nevertheless, it seems that nowadays many people are drawn to this sort of behavior and continue engaging in mental masturbation – X is an extremely cute animal! Nobody and nothing should ever hurt it! The more videos of X thriving on social media I see, the more ecstatic I am!

An implication of the nature of nature pertains to morality. I have changed my mind on more than one thing in my life and this is one example of those. I used to firmly believe in absolute morality, but the nature of nature has simply crushed this way of thinking. Let's take birds and worms, for example. Is it morally right to catch worms and feed them to birds? Well, from birds' point of view, definitely yes, as it will give them the nutrients they need, but it's certainly a huge no from worms' standpoint, as it will contribute to their demise. Talking of this matter, Dr. Henry Wu's quote in Jurassic World has had a deep impact on me: "Monster is a relative term. To a canary, a cat is a monster. We're just used to being the cat."

Then, a question naturally arises: How should we live our lives? I think the best approach to answering this question is shown by the following quote from Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a.k.a. Osho: "You should care only about one thing, that you are happy, that you are blissful, that you are silent, that you are at ease with existence."

Related article: Animal Abuse

Continue reading

Quote #119

"Genuine humility is a prerequisite for fully embracing evolution." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

Quote #117

"The universe is an exhaustible source of mind-stimulating materials, ever-ready to be probed and, hopefully, grokked by the willing." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

It's Not the End of the World

The title of this article is a cool-sounding English idiom that is used to assure someone that a "problem is not as bad as they think" (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online). This expression is efficacious at executing its task because it 'intelligently' compares one's predicament with the worst possible of all: Doomsday. The fact that this can be found in major dictionaries is a testament to its effectiveness as a lexical item. Nonetheless, something in it has tickled my philosophical mind.

What if it IS the end of the world? Imagine the earth is on the verge of being pummeled by an asteroid vastly larger than the one wiping out non-avian dinosaurs. Or some sort of zombie apocalypse being underway, slowly but surely exterminating our very own species, Homo sapiens. These are highly hypothetical, but scientifically speaking, we are on a trajectory toward the inevitable demise that is patiently awaiting us far, far away temporally. Facing such a potentially petrifying reality, what should we do? I turn to Stoicism for the answer.

The ancient philosophy provides us with a potent tool for achieving a sense of inner peace: amor fati. This Latin expression translates as 'a love of fate', which is self-explanatory. This Stoic practice teaches us to love whatever happens, getting rid of the mental resistance that is only holding us back in life. Sh*t happens (and coprolites happened): this is the reality of life. We need to wholeheartedly embrace our fate, accepting that it is the best that could have happened and harboring no regrets whatsoever. Stoic philosopher Epictetus encapsulates amor fati brilliantly: “Do not seek for things to happen the way you want them to; rather, wish that what happens happen the way it happens: then you will be happy.“ Practicing amor fati makes it possible for you to experience the fullness of happiness and ataraxia.

Ergo, whether it is the end of the world or not the end of the world doesn't matter. Let's just devote our time, energy, and attention to the present moment, making the most of we currently have with love, passion, and gratitude. I would like to end this article with a profoundly mindset-changing quote on death from the doyen of science communication, Richard Dawkins:

We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Arabia. Certainly those unborn ghosts include greater poets than Keats, scientists greater than Newton. We know this because the set of possible people allowed by our DNA so massively exceeds the set of actual people. In the teeth of these stupefying odds it is you and I, in our ordinariness, that are here. We privileged few, who won the lottery of birth against all odds, how dare we whine at our inevitable return to that prior state from which the vast majority have never stirred?

Continue reading

Level Up – Book Review

Hardback version of Level Up by Rob Dial
Photo taken at Periplus Mall Kelapa Gading, Jakarta

Level Up: Get Focused, Stop Procrastinating and Upgrade Your Life

by Rob Dial

My life has been pretty good so far and I'm positive that I'm not the idlest or the least productive person in the world. Nevertheless, before deciding to masticate this book, I felt that I could be a better version of myself, realizing the full potential that the universe had bestowed upon this earthling. When there is room for improvement, it's time to act, isn't it? The next question is "Why this book?" I'm not usually a self-development-book–reader kind of guy, but, as far as I can remember, podcaster and coach Rob Dial has always hooked me on his intellectual charm ever since I found him (I think it was on Facebook). This explains why I've been propelled to diving into the mindset guru's writing for my personal growth and I'm glad I did.

If I had to describe Level Up: Get Focused, Stop Procrastinating and Upgrade Your Life by Rob Dial in a nutshell, it would be "cheat sheets for a better life". This book wonderfully presents the grand recipe for success in fewer than 250 pages, and the author deserves infinite plaudits for that (this is not an exaggeration). From Level Up, I have gained a massive number of insights into self-improvement: the way our fear robs us of our opportunities to grow (pun sort of intended), the pernicious nature of distraction (which has prompted me to turn off some social media notifications), how to establish discipline, and so on and so forth. Anything that is scientifically backed trumps those which aren't, and that's a huge part of why Level Up is outstandingly good. This book is laden with science and there is a chapter devoted to discussing neuroplasticity, which the author defines as "the brain's ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience" (p. 196). Rob is an eloquent writer and it is a great pleasure to read his writing. You may find some of what he wrote somewhat repetitive, but I think it's fine because we often need to be reminded over and over when it comes to personal development. To end this paragraph, I'd like to say that Level Up is one of the most helpful books I've ever read in my life. Simply brilliant and fascinating read on the subject.

If you feel stuck in your life, are frustrated with your progress, or simply aiming to become a better person, Level Up is the right book for you. Grab it fast, level up, and achieve your goals!

Have you read Level Up? How did you find the book? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Continue reading

Quote #115

"Do not fall for the execrable fearmongering propagated by demagogues around you." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

Quote #114

"Being geologically literate will eradicate a significant number of superstitions." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

𝘛𝘺𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘹 Spelling Alignment Chart 🦖

𝘛𝘺𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘹 Spelling Alignment Chart 🦖

 

Continue reading

Lily and Maia: A Dinosaur Adventure – Book Review

Image source: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41gL4oGBKHL.jpg

Lily and Maia: A Dinosaur Adventure

by Jack Horner

Illustrations by Grace Hattrup

Lily and Maia: A Dinosaur Adventure is an inspiring story about an intrepid, very young, female amateur paleontologist who is crazy about dinosaurs and goes on an adventure in Montana in quest of nests of Maiasaura. (Maiasaura is a type of duck-billed dinosaur which the author, Jack Horner, discovered with his friend in that region of the United States.) Why should this book be on every child's bookshelf?

Firstly, Lily and Maia highlights the importance of pursuing your passion. Life is short and, if possible, what is better than doing what you love? This book encourages parents and teachers alike to wholeheartedly support their children in their endeavors, as long as they are positive and bring good to the world.

Moreover, Lily and Maia raises the paramount theme of science. Fostering the love of science is dispensable as our species' existence hinges on it, and childhood is the best time to start instilling this quality. Through the medium of dinosaurs and paleontology, Lily and Maia beautifully conveys this critical message.

Dedicated to Jack Horner's colleague Holly Woodward and featuring lovely illustrations by Grace Hattrup, Lily and Maia offers a simple yet profound children's story filled with adventure, friendship, and science and is a great gift to the world of education.

Have you read Lily and Maia: A Dinosaur Adventure? What is your opinion on this children's book? Share in the comment section below!

Continue reading

Quote #101

"If the truth makes you uncomfortable, don't deny it. Be grateful – you are on the right track." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

Quote #97

"Something that is uncriticizable is not worth defending." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

Quote #96

"Winners use intelligence, losers use violence." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

Quote #94

"The amount of mental gymnastics required to make sense of the dinosaurs without acceptance of the theory of evolution is utterly ridiculous." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

Quote #93

"If the fact says otherwise, your opinion doesn't matter." - Klinsman Hinjaya

Continue reading

The Life Poem

Out of nothingness, each one of us snapped into life

Of countless possibilities, the cosmos chose one particular path

Bliss and sorrow

Order and chaos

The inevitable concoction, served right in front of our faces

What a blessing it is to breathe the earthly air!

Savoring the beauty of diverse blossoms

And gazing at the magical sunset

Is there another way to be grateful for life

Than to discern joy from every nook and cranny?

Existence is the ultimate gift

Exploit it to the marrow

The indifference of the universe

Be not afraid of it

Because life will be life

Continue reading