Jet Li on a core Buddhist teaching: bodily pain is inevitable, but suffering comes from our mental reactions —frustration, self-pity, and resistance. Acknowledge the hurt, but let go of the psychological burden that creates true suffering.
Photo by Miles Peacock
Jet Li shares profound wisdom on the crucial distinction between physical pain and emotional suffering—a core Buddhist teaching. He explains that while bodily pain is an unavoidable reality of human existence, suffering is often a secondary reaction created by our mental responses and negative thoughts. When people experience illness or injury, they frequently amplify their discomfort by questioning "Why me?"—adding layers of frustration, self-pity, and resistance to the inevitable physical sensations. Li argues that understanding the true nature of reality allows a person to endure intense physical pain without becoming overwhelmed by the additional mental anguish we create around it. Drawing from Zen-inspired wisdom, he advocates for an approach where one fully acknowledges and feels physical hurt—not denying or suppressing it—while consciously choosing to let go of the psychological burden, the stories, and the resistance that transform simple pain into profound suffering. This teaching reveals how much of our distress is self-created through our relationship to pain rather than the pain itself.
Jet Li is a martial artist, actor, and devoted practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. He has studied for over thirty years under masters including Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
