International superstar Jet Li recently shared his perspective on death and explained why he chooses not to attend funerals in an interview with Chinese magazine Sanlian Lifeweek.
At 62, Li described how he has come to accept the impermanence of life as a natural and inevitable part of the human experience. When asked if he ever felt sorrow or regret after losing loved ones, the Buddhist actor said, “Why should we feel sad or regretful? I believe such emotions only exist for avatars trapped in a game.”
Li explained that while others may be accustomed to mourning in traditional ways, he personally avoids attending funerals. “Some say I’m heartless or have no feelings, but I always tell them no one gets through life without losing a loved one,” he said. He emphasized acceptance of death as a universal experience, adding, “Who in this world can avoid experiencing the departure of their loved ones?”
Li shared that he has already made funeral arrangements for himself and his wife. Encouraging others to focus on life rather than fear death, Li said, “If I know I’m going to die, should I spend every day worrying about it, or should I cherish each moment? I believe living each day to the fullest is far more important.”
This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.
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