Why Am I Anxious?

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Anxiety often arises when our thoughts constantly dwell on the future, worrying about things like potential financial losses, natural disasters, or how we’ll cope if something happens to a loved one. When our thoughts are preoccupied with “what might happen,” feelings of unease, restlessness, and fear naturally grow. This is why the practice of maintaining mindfulness is so important.

The key is to move forward at your own pace, one step at a time. For instance, if we were to lose a leg, life with crutches would still be a blessing. If we focus on what we’ve lost, we make the rest of our lives even more difficult. Instead, shifting our attention to the present and asking, “What can I do now?” allows us to live more peacefully, free from unnecessary suffering.

Dharma Q&A begins with our personal stories. We first talk about the various hardships and sorrows we experience in life. Then, through conversation, we explore the question, “Why do we suffer like this?”

With the guiding question, “What is the truth?” we have compiled the stories shared in Dharma Q&As into a small book.

Join Together Society America and Jungto International are entirely volunteer-run organizations. Volunteers from Jungto International have generously contributed their time and talents to the planning, translation, design, and editing of this book.

Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (법륜스님) is a devoted practitioner, peace advocate, and champion for sustainability. He shares transformative messages of lasting happiness, peace, and reconciliation, while tirelessly advocating for environmental sustainability. As a humanitarian, he provides vital aid to developing countries, and as a visionary thinker, he is laying the groundwork for a new, alternative civilization. Above all, he is an awakened practitioner, guiding others on the path to enlightenment and compassionate living.

He spreads his wisdom through the founding of various NGO organizations, published books, and his renowned Dharma Q&As.

Founded in 1988, the Jungto Society is a community of practitioners committed to freeing themselves from suffering and dedicating their lives to serving others, in the spirit of a bodhisattva. Over the years, the society has expanded its mission, giving rise to several influential organizations:Join Together Society (JTS), an international NGO focused on humanitarian relief; Ecobuddha, which promotes environmental consciousness in daily life; Good Friends, advocating for human rights and refugees; and The Peace Foundation, which supports the unification of South and North Korea.
He published over 50 books, including Words of Wisdom for Newlyweds, What Is Happiness?, and I Am a Decent Person, valuable and comprehensive guidance for navigating modern society.
Through his renowned Dharma Q&As, he also reaches a global audience. As of April 2025, his talks have accumulated over 2 billion views on YouTube, where he shares profound insights on how to free oneself from suffering and attain true happiness.
Throughout his life, Venerable Pomnyun Sunim has received numerous accolades for his work. In 2002, he was honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding, and in 2021, he was awarded the 37th Niwano Peace Prize.