Buddhist Exam Across Five South American Countries: Meeting Through the Dharma, Faith and Legacy

by Dao Cheng, São Paulo, Brazil

On October 25, the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) chapters across South America simultaneously held the "2026 BLIA Global Buddhist Exam." With 10 examination venues across 5 countries and 5 chapters, the event featured 14 categories and was conducted in 3 languages. Participants ranged in age from 5 to over 90, including three-generation families and parent-child pairs, with a total of 450 people participating.

The ten examination venues included the Zu Lai Temple, Illumination Educational Center of the Sons of Tathagata Foundation, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre of Sao Paulo, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre of Rio de Janeiro, and the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre of Recife under the Brazil Chapter; Fo Guang Shan Temple of Paraguay and Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre of Asuncion under the Paraguay Chapter; as well as Fo Guang Shan Temple of Argentina, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Chile, and the Uruguay Chapter.

Paulo F. Vieira Jr., a member of the Brazil Chapter Lotus Subchapter and a BLIA Scout, along with his wife, Edna R. A. Gomes, and their daughter, Emi Gomes Vieira, a White Elephant Executive of the Young Adult Division, took the exam together at Zu Lai Temple. Paulo expressed that as a Buddhist, participating in the Buddhist Exam alongside family members who are also Buddhists is the most natural thing to do. He hopes to serve as one who "hands down the light," allowing the Buddha's teaching to blossom throughout Brazil.

Donizeti and Rosana, a couple participating in the Buddhist Exam for the third year, shared that the exam serves as a checkpoint on the path of learning from the Buddha, helping them assess their progress and identify areas for further growth.

Venerable Ru Li, the Guiding Venerable of the BLIA Paraguay Chapter, encouraged the participants by noting that an exam is only temporary, while one’s daily conduct lasts a lifetime. Learning from the Buddha requires constant self-reflection and the ability to test oneself in daily life; transforming the Buddha’s teachings into actual practice is the true significance of learning from the Buddha.

Venerable Ru Sheng, the Guiding Venerable of the BLIA Chile Chapter, gifted each examinee a "Scholar’s Pen," hoping that the candidates would increase in wisdom and remain calm and composed during the exam. At Chile, the number of participants taking the exam in Spanish was double that of those taking it in Chinese.

In addition to BLIA members, the BLIA Argentina Chapter saw participation from non-members, local Argentine residents, and children and youth. At the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre of Asuncion in Paraguay, the examinees were entirely local residents, demonstrating the localization and integration of Humanistic Buddhism into daily life in South America.

Venerable Miaowei, Superintendent of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre of Rio de Janeiro, shared the Buddhist story of "The Old Ox That Heard the Sutras and Was Reborn as a Human" to encourage participants, emphasizing that the virtuous causes and good conditions planted by participating in the Buddhist Exam will surely not be in vain.

Miguel Sena, a YAD member from Recife, shared that theoretical study is a vital part of learning the Buddha’s teachings, and he hopes to deepen his understanding of the profound meaning of the Buddha’s teachings.

At the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Centre of Sao Paulo, five-year-old Daniel Hu was the youngest candidate this year. As it was his first time taking the exam, he was accompanied by his mother, with three generations of the family participating together, embodying the faith and legacy.