Integrating the Dharma into Life—From Learning to Practice, Sons of Tathagata Buddhist Exam

by Dao Cheng, São Paulo, Brazil

On October 8, the Sons of Tathagata Foundation held the "2026 South American Buddhist Exam" at the Illumination Center. A total of 103 participants, ranging in age from 6 to 16, took the exam across four sessions. The goal of the exam was not merely to achieve high scores, but to guide children and youth in applying the Buddha’s teaching to their daily lives and cultivating a right perspective.

Venerable You Chien, Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Zu Lai Temple in Brazil, encouraged the children, there is no need to feel nervous about the Buddhist Exam. The focus is not on scores, but on the hope that everyone will truly practice what they have learned in their daily lives.

To make the content easier for children and teenagers to understand, the Portuguese question bank was prepared by Felipe Henrique of the Zu Lai Temple Translation Center. Guided by the principles of the "Three Acts of Goodness and Four Givings," the questions were integrated into real-life scenarios—such as "I help with household chores" or "I listen attentively in class"—allowing the children to understand the concepts through their own familiar life experiences. Lorenço, an member of the BLIA Lotus Chapter who leads the Sons of Tathagata study group, along with the teachers, were present at the exam venue to provide support and answer any questions the students might have.

Miguel shared that through his studies in the Buddhist Exam and the Sons of Tathagata education program, he has come to understand that every action has consequences. Therefore, he must be mindful of his every word and deed, as well as his thoughts, and take responsibility for his choices. Marco initially thought the Buddhist Exam questions would be very difficult, but after completing them, he realized they were not hard at all; they were simply things one should do in daily life, such as helping others and refraining from violent behavior. Isabela, a 6-year-old girl, said that the Buddha’s teaching is "to respect one another."