Martial arts legend and international movie star Jet Li
distills ten powerful insights from his iconic career, his personal life and
philosophies, and his thirty-year Buddhist practice
Jet Li’s story defies legend. Born into extreme hardship, he fought his way to
become the youngest national martial arts champion in Chinese history at twelve
years old, dominating opponents twice his size. He then became one of the first
internationally renowned movie stars from China with films including Once
Upon a Time in China, Hero, and Fearless. These
films redefined martial arts for the modern world, making him a household name.
But behind the glory lay a deeper battle: a search for meaning beyond fame,
fortune, and physical skill. After a near-death encounter in the 2004 tsunami,
Li turned inward, deepening his study of Tibetan Buddhism and dedicating his
life to philanthropy, though he was at the height of his Hollywood career.
For the very first time, Li shares the ten insights that have guided his life,
in which anyone can find wisdom, guidance, and power, including:
- life
is movement;
- the
secret to self-defense;
- separate
the bitterness from the pain;
- be a
grandson to the world; and
- learn
from everyone.
Li invites readers to share his interior life, to hear untold stories from his
martial arts and film career, and to meditate with him on the nature of
spiritual awakening. If you look deeply, you can see Li’s life philosophy in
many of his movies, and in Beyond Life and Death he fully
links his own story and spiritual journey with ten actionable insights that
anyone can apply to live a healthy and happy life.
About the Author
Jet Li is an internationally acclaimed martial
artist, actor, and philanthropist. After rising to fame as a five-time national
Wushu champion and starring in Shaolin Temple, he became a global
icon through films like Hero, Fearless, and Romeo
Must Die. Following a near-death experience in the 2004 tsunami, he founded
the One Foundation to promote philanthropy and community giving. A student of
Tibetan Buddhism for 30 years, Jet brings a lifetime of discipline, reflection,
and spiritual insight to this deeply personal book.
