Yoon Mi Ra finds peace in monk's words on life and afterlife

Actress Yoon Mi Ra expressed deep resonance with a remark made by a monk she met at a temple. The message emphasized that happiness and satisfaction in the present moment are more important than religious concepts of heaven and hell after death. Yoon nodded in agreement, asking, "How do we know if there is a heaven or a hell after we die?" Even after parting with the monk, she continued the sentiment, saying, "We are in heaven right now. Are we not happy?"

On the 24th, a video titled "Mira goes to Songdo to find the secrets of K-beauty, gaining unexpected enlightenment from a quirky monk" was released on Yoon Mi Ra's YouTube channel. On this day, Yoon visited a temple in Songdo to converse with a monk, sharing thoughts on life and happiness that are easily overlooked in daily life. In the space of a temple, which is far removed from the glamorous world of broadcasting and the entertainment industry, Yoon showed herself calmly reflecting on her own life.

"Coming to a temple makes my mind feel stable and comfortable," Yoon stated. While visiting the temple, she also thought of her late mother. Since she heard stories about religion and life in a space where memories of family and death overlap, the monk's words seemed to carry more weight than simple words of blessing.

The core topic the monk presented to Yoon was 'heaven and hell.' The monk explained, "Heaven and hell do not exist after death. Paradise and hell exist during one's lifetime," conveying the idea that how one lives their current life is more important than vague expectations or fears regarding the world after death. It means that rather than postponing happiness and misery as rewards for the afterlife, it is important to take care of one's current life, body, and mind.

Yoon immediately empathized with these words. She marveled, "How do we know if there is a heaven or a hell after we die?" and added, "It is truly amazing that the monk says such things." The monk's way of speaking, which did not stop at explaining religious doctrine but instead offered a perspective on real life, left a significant impression on Yoon.

Yoon's thoughts continued even after parting with the monk. She remarked, "Isn't that such an accurate statement? I have never seen a religious person speak like that," and said, "We are in heaven right now. Are we not happy?" She then candidly shared her current sense of satisfaction, saying, "I am happy. I was so happy today as well."

In particular, Yoon did not postpone happiness as a grand goal or a future reward. Her words, "We must be satisfied here and now. What is it that we aren't satisfied with right now that makes us greedy?" contained a self-questioning of modern people's lives, where eyes are captured by what they lack rather than what they already possess. Her remarks are also meaningful in that, as one ages, the values of life can shift from the quantitative accumulation of success or achievement to present peace, relationships, health, and daily satisfaction.

Yoon's attitude is not unrelated to her career of over 50 years in acting. Since her debut in the 1969 film "I Love You," she is an actress who has witnessed the changes in Korean popular culture on the front lines, appearing in numerous films and dramas including "The Maiden Boatwoman." She has connected with the public for a long time by consistently appearing in era-defining works such as "Famous Princesses," "Temptation of Wife," and "Live Your Own Life."

It is also noteworthy that the actress, who had to constantly run toward works, acting, and success in her youth, is now speaking of the happiness of each day itself as an important value of life. Especially since she visited the temple while thinking of her mother and heard a message emphasizing 'life while living' rather than 'life after death,' this meeting likely felt even more special to Yoon.

Ultimately, the enlightenment Yoon gained at the temple was closer to a very realistic attitude toward life rather than a grand religious proposition. Rather than waiting for a heaven that may or may not come one day, it is about discovering happiness in today's life, and rather than chasing what has not yet been obtained, it is about fully enjoying the day that has already been given. Having lived as an actress for a long time, Yoon calmly conveyed her standard of happiness on this day by saying, "I was so happy today as well."