Project Patience: How To ‘Fight’ The Fire Of Anger (4th Run)

As featured in the June 2018 issue of ‘For You Information’

Click HERE To Register 

Praise From Previous Runs:

An extremely important course to help oneself to neutralise and transform one’s anger for cultivating merits. I learnt to understand and accept undesirable situations to be a way of living out my negative karma, and not to be angry with those who cause me pain and inconvenience. A good and effective mind transformation method to find peace and comfort during difficult times. – THB

Dear Brother Shi’an, Amituofo. The courses have been most enriching and helpful. Thank you. Best regards, Hedy

I am grateful to have learnt much from Project Patience. Thank you. As always, teacher Shi’an prepares well and gives his best in class – so that students can reap full benefits. Yes, Bodhicitta… Thank you… for your usual prompt and helpful responses. – Chelsea

More than 10 years ago, I attended a fellowship session led by teacher Shi’an. The discussion happened to be based on a chapter in Shantideva’s ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life’. References were also made to Venerable Thubten Chodron’s book ‘Working with Anger’. It was a short session, but packed with practical tips. In 2013, teacher Shi’an expanded the short session into the 4-session Project Patience course which I signed up for. I confess that when I signed up, I was wondering how he could expand the contents into a full course. That was just my ignorance as there was so much to cover that the 4 sessions were constantly fast-paced, and never with a dull moment. He filled the course with examples that one could relate to for application to daily life. It was certainly not mere theory or textbook teaching.

A friend was somewhat surprised to see me at the course, remarking that I don’t seem to have anger issues. Though I probably appear patient to some, personally, I feel that this is a course suitable for all of us, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, good-tempered or ill-tempered. Who doesn’t have this feeling of anger, or its more ‘refined’ version of irritation arising in our hearts, even if it’s for only a thought moment, which often lasts longer? And how often do we feel that our anger is justified? The training of patience is a lifelong project (which usually spans many lives). Until we have perfected our patience, we all need to learn, and of course, practise it. – Joyce

Thanks for teaching me the enlightened spiritual way. Amituofo, Mei

Amituofo, Bro Shi’an. Thank you for your guidance and sharing of your knowledge. – Sally & Estella

Hello Teacher Shi’an, just wanted to say ‘Thank you very much for Project Patience course!’ You have been very enthusiastic and real! … It is definitely a very good class to help to reflect on our spiritual path. It couldn’t have come at a better time, as at thus point in my life, I am searching for answers… Your classes helped me piece together all that happened in different aspects of my life after I started attending them in late 2015… (Especially as they are in English. It must be my prayers for guidance having been heard!) This class helped me better understand other Pure Land classes as well… Many times, when I came to class troubled, I get answers from your lessons! It was very helpful when you show us how to put Nianfo into practice. I am more accepting of all that happened or is happening, and am trying hard to keep anger at bay, so that all the good done does not fall into the negative zone. I am now in a better zone… Much appreciated, and am blessed to be able to attend your classes in English! I have benefited a lot from attending your sponsored classes and received book. Ruth

Hi Teacher Shi’an, thank you for yet another good course… I am… very grateful for this course. Amituofo, MH

I take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful teachings I have received from you since the beginning of this year. I have always enjoyed your lessons and benefit from them. With gratitude in my heart, I say a big thank you! – Bee Bee

Hi Bro. Shi’an, this is the 2nd time I attended Project Patience. I absorbed it better and truly appreciate the compassionate virtues of Bodhisattvas in treating sentient beings. The teachings do help me to be more aware of handling anger. The best part is knowing that Nianfo is one of the best ways to deal with anger. Thank you. Amituofo, Sally

Hi Bro. Shi’an! Yes, I really did benefit much from your lessons! Thank you very much! What you shared was truly wise and I do see myself in some scenarios you mentioned.. Really want to improve my relationships with family and friends. *Guilty of having unnecessary quarrels with family :p* Really grateful to you for sharing and am doing my best to be a good student to practise what you taught. Sincerely hope to be a better person with patience, especially not easily angered. *Heartfelt thanks* Will share and encourage family and friends to attend such beneficial courses too. – Camilly

How I have benefited… Excellent examples of how we can utilise the teachings in real life, which enables me to connect to my situations… The course was delivered and shared in a light-hearted manner which does not stress me out, and I look forward to every session. – Adeline

Thank you once again for the course. I benefited alot and I will learn to be more patient after attending these lessons. Amituofo, Albert

My patience was put to test soon after I attended lesson 2 of your class. Well, I should be glad that the opportunity came for me to put into practice what I have learnt. Honestly, at that moment, I was unable to dissolve my anger immediately. But I was mindful of it and knew that I had to do something about it. I quickly reminded myself of the techniques you shared with us in class. I was pleasantly surprised at how soon I managed to overcome my negative emotions and realised how foolish it was of me to get angry. Thanks, Bro. Shi’an, for starting this course. I truly benefited from it and am sure it will be of benefit to others too… Thank you for your tireless efforts in propagating the Dhamma. Hope to have the opportunity to attend more of your classes. With metta, Ivy

About Teacher:

Shen Shi’an (沈时安) is an independent Buddhist teacher, author, researcher, translator, editor and publisher. He was a founding member of the Dharma Propagation Division of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (Bright Hill Temple) in 1997. Holding a Master of Arts degree in Buddhist Studies from University of Sunderland (March 2009), that covered all major Buddhist traditions, he served as the Dharma Trainer & Project Coordinator in its Community Development & Training Department until 2011, focusing on research-writing, teaching and answering of media queries on Buddhism. He was the founder of the temple’s Youth Mission, book purchaser for its Awareness Place project, and the Chief Editor of the Web & Library Department, that supported Buddhanet.

He is the founder and editor of TheDailyEnlightenment.com since 1997, one of the largest independent Buddhist inspirational e-newsletters with over 33,500 members, editor of ‘Be a Lamp Upon Yourself’, ‘The Stonepeace Book (Volume 1-2)’, ‘Awaken: Gateway to Buddhism (CD-ROM)’, author-editor of ‘The Daily Enlightenment: Reflections For Practising Buddhists (Book 1-7)’ and the bestselling graphic novel, ‘The Amazing & Amusing Adventures of Sam & Sara: The Zen of All Kinds of Stuff!’ (He is the author-editor-translator of 15 books.) He also contributes occasionally to magazines such as ‘Nanyang Buddhist’, ‘Awaken’ (for which he was Contributing Editor), ‘For You (Information)’ (for which he was invited to be an editorial board member) and ‘Eastern Horizon’. He served with the film selection team of a Buddhist film festival, writes movie reviews for BuddhistChannel, a Buddhist news network, and created Dharma@Cinema, which shares the Dharma through detailed film reviews.

With retranslated sutras and treatises, he has taught on the Pure Land teachings at Singapore Buddhist Federation, Kong Meng San, Pu Ji Si Buddhist Research Centre and Poh Ming Tse. He also leads the Pureland Practice Fellowship, which he founded in 2008. He graduated from, and was invited to be a group counsellor for the ‘Theory And Practice Of Pure Land Buddhism’ course (净土教理研修班) at Singapore Buddhist Lodge, and to be its commemorative magazine’s chief editor. He has also committed to the Bodhisattva Precepts at Donglin Monastery (东林寺), which was founded by the First Patriarch Of The Pure Land Tradition Great Master Huiyuan.

He was also invited to teach Sunday School teachers on how to discern controversial ‘Buddhist’ groups. He is also occasionally invited to conduct Dharma discussions for youths of tertiary institutions’ Buddhist societies (NTUBS, NUSBS, SIMBB, NPBS, NYPBS, SPBS) on various subjects, and to introduce Buddhist perspectives at Secondary Schools (St. Patrick’s School, Manjusri School and its Buddhist Interact Club), Junior Colleges (Catholic Junior College) and International Schools (UWCSEA, SJII). He was also invited to share on Buddhism by NUS Medical Dhamma Circle, Dharma Drum Mountain (Singapore), Fo Guang Shan (Singapore), Tai Pei Buddhist Centre, Singapore Buddhist Mission Youth, Singapore Buddhist Youth Mission, Wat Ananda Youth, Buddha Of Medicine Welfare Society, The Buddhist Union Dharma Centre, Buddhist Fellowship, Dot Connections Growth Centre and Kampung Senang. He has also been invited to Indonesia (Ekayana Buddhist Centre) and Malaysia (Than Hsiang Temple) to teach.

He was a committee member of the Inter-Religious Organisation, through which he served in interfaith harmony projects by writing and giving of talks, having represented Buddhist points of view at national events held by NACLI, NHB, NHG, SAF, SPF, MHA, ACM, SPM, STB, OnePeople.sg, IRCC and MCYS. He was also chosen to be a volunteer member of the Publications Consultative Panel under Singapore’s Ministry Of Communications And Information’s (MCI) Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for 2 years, and invited to extend his stint. He also co-runs Moonpointer.com, a blog that promotes creative-writing, and Purelanders.com, which archives hundreds of English articles on the Chinese Pure Land teachings. He is also the founder of Facebook pages such as Buddhist Confessions & Resolutions, Cinema Dharma and Buddhist Vegan Fellowship.

He has a ‘Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate, completed (Feb 2017), T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell’ (a subsidiary of Cornell University), with which he uses to promote Maha-Veganism, as taught by the Buddha. He can be reached at tde<at>thedailyenlightenment.com for invitations to share the Dharma via articles and talks.

Interview In Buddhist Magazine: http://moonpointer.com/new/2011/07/interview-with-shen-shian

Published Works (Books and articles written, translated, edited):

[01] The Daily Enlightenment 1: Reflections For Practising Buddhists
[02] The Daily Enlightenment 2: Reflections For Practising Buddhists
[03] The Daily Enlightenment 3: Reflections For Practising Buddhists
[04] The Daily Enlightenment 4: Reflections For Practising Buddhists
[05] The Daily Enlightenment 5: Reflections For Practising Buddhists
[06] The Daily Enlightenment 6: Reflections For Practising Buddhists
[07] The Daily Enlightenment 7: Reflections For Practising Buddhists 
[08] Amitabha Sutra: The Sutra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amita Buddha
[09] The Sutra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Immeasurable Life: Section On Amitabha Buddha’s Forty-Eight Great Vows
[10] The Great Buddha Crown’s Surangama Sutra’s Section On Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha
[11] Guanshiyin Bodhisattva’s Universal Door Chapter
[12] The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra
[13] The Pure Land Passport: The Three Great Essentials When Approaching Death
[14] The Faith Factor: The Treatise On Ten Doubts About Pure Land 
[15] The Stonepeace Book Volume 1: One Hundred Illuminating Inspirational Sayings
[16] The Stonepeace Book Volume 2: One Hundred Enlightening Inspirational Sayings
[17] The Amazing & Amusing Adventures Of Sam & Sara: The Zen Of All Kinds Of Stuff
[18] Be A Lamp Upon Yourself (Editor)
[19] Awaken: Gateway To Buddhism (CD-ROM) (Editor)
[20] With Same Vow And Practice (Editor)
[21] Various Articles in ‘For You Information’ magazine
[22] Various Articles in ‘Nanyang Buddhist’ magazine
[23] Various Articles in ‘Awaken’ magazine
[24] Various Articles in ‘Shi Cheng Chao Yin: Singapore Buddhist Lodge Newsletter’
[25] Article in ‘Eastern Horizon’
[26] Various Articles in ‘Buddhist Channel’ website
[27] Various Articles in Singapore’s Inter-Religious Organisation’s 2009 Commemorative Magazine for the China-Singapore Religious and Cultural Exhibition