Zu Lai Temple Celebrates Children's Day - Planting Seeds of the Three Acts of Goodness

by Dao Cheng, São Paulo, Brazil

Fo Guang Shan Zu Lai Temple, the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) of Brazil Chapter, the Sons of Tathagata Foundation, and the Cotia City Government jointly hosted a Children’s Day celebration at Zu Lai Temple. On October 18, nearly one hundred children gathered to spend a meaningful day through singing, film appreciation, parent-child coloring activities, and enjoying delicious food, all while learning about the "Three Acts of Goodness" and the virtue of gratitude.

The Head Abbess of the Fo Guang Shan South American, Venerable Miao You, encouraged the children to be happy and, using the coloring activity as a metaphor, urged them to make good use of their brushes to paint beautiful colors for their future, to take responsibility for their own lives, and to be masters of themselves. At the same time, she guided the children to reflect on the fact that the execution of such an event is made possible by the dedication of staff, parents, and others, and encouraged them to express their thanks aloud to cultivate the virtue of gratitude.

Isis do Carmo de Oliveira Galdino, representing the Department of Education of Cotia City, stated that Secretária Ana Paula dos Santos is very supportive of this event and expressed her gratitude to Zu Lai Temple for its long-term dedication to children's education. The short film shown during the event was both engaging and educational, guiding the children to learn the spirit of helping others. Prior to the event, the city government selected 30 well-behaved children to participate, giving them the opportunity to enter Zu Lai Temple and experience a different culture and environment.

The coloring sheets used in the activity featured various landscapes of Zu Lai Temple, such as the Guan Yin Pond and the stone-carved sramaneras, allowing everyone to become familiar with the temple environment during the creative process. The children worked in small groups with their color pencils, while the younger children were assisted by their parents and relatives. Eight works stood out, and the young artists were gifted copies of Bodhi Light Tales: Volume 1 in Portuguese. The children were captivated by the exquisite illustrations in the books.

Daniela Moreira, Director of Academic Affairs for the Sons of Tathagata, and Murilo Pena from the Lotus Subchapter led the singing of the "Three Acts of Goodness" song in Portuguese. Nine-year-old Ana Júlia shared that, after seeing the resilience and kindness of the puppy in the film, she realized that inner strength is more important than outward appearance. She hopes to learn from the protagonist in her daily life by helping her classmates and parents.

Margaret Shi Xiaoyun, Deputy Director of the BLIA Children's Education Committee, stated that the Children's Day event aims to plant the seeds of the "Three Acts of Goodness" in children, as they are the future of the nation and society. Leading by example, she participated in the event with three generations of her family, including her 12-year-old grandson, Arthur Zhang Jiahao.

The event was hosted by BLIA-YAD White Elephant Executive Alex Lin. Various subchapters in São Paulo provided gifts and chocolates, while the Lotus Subchapter provided a bounce house, popcorn, and cotton candy, with members from each chapter serving as volunteers. After the event, the children played freely and were overjoyed to receive gifts. Zu Lai Temple truly became a joyful paradise for the children, filled with laughter and vitality.