(Half bell)
(Bell)
(Foreign language)
(Translator) Dear Thay, what can I do
so that my brother and me don't argue that much anymore?
What can do...
(Sister)...so that he does not hurt me anymore?
No, we fight, we argue.
(Sister) Dear Thay, our friend wants to know
what can I do
so that my brother and I don't hurt each other anymore
with fighting and arguing.
We know that when we fight,
both of us suffer.
That's very clear.
Not only the big brother suffers,
but also the young brother suffers.
We know that.
So, I suggest
that when you have a good time together...
Suppose you have a time to sit together,
and each one is holding an ice cream and eating happily,
you should make good use of that good moment to discuss.
"Hey, brother! Should we discuss a little bit
about our fighting with each other?
Because you know that, when we fight, we suffer both.
So, what do you think we can do,
in order to avoid these moments?
Because that moment will happen soon, maybe in a few hours!"
(Laughter)
And then he, your brother, will agree,
because he knows that when he fights you,
not only you suffer, but he suffers.
So, when we have a good time together,
we invite each other to discuss, a little bit,
how to avoid that kind of fighting.
That is called a Dharma discussion, Dharma sharing,
between you and your brother.
Your mother or your father can be there in order to help.
They may have ideas.
So, after ten minutes of discussion,
you may sign a peace treaty!
A peace treaty between big brother and young brother.
We sign a peace treaty.
In the peace treaty there are a few sentences,
a few rules that you and your brother have to observe, to respect.
And then, solemnly,
you and your brother will sign the peace treaty
in the presence of your father and your mother,
maybe the Buddha and other friends.
Maybe you can invite some of your friends
and you organize a sitting
where you can sign the peace treaty between you and your brother.
You invite them over for tea,
or for cookies,
and you tell them that you and your brother
are going to sign a peace treaty,
so that you and your brother don't fight any more!
They will be very interested,
because they may have the same problem.
(Laughter)
And then, you read aloud the peace treaty.
Number 1, number 2, number 3,
the kind of practices that help you to refrain from starting a fight.
This is meditation.
You can do it with your brother,
and with the help of your mother and father,
if you want.
Here, in Plum Village, we do that all the time.
The monks, the nuns, the lay people,
they meet every week.
They discuss how to maintain peace and harmony and brotherhood,
so that our life will be pleasant, happy,
so that we can help many people.
So, if you and your brother are happy,
you will be able to help other boys in the neighborhood.
After having read aloud this peace treaty,
you explain to them
that you have discussed among yourselves,
and with the help of your parents,
and you have arrived at this kind of conclusion,
that these are practices that will help you
not to start a fight again.
Then, you ask everyone to be silent, to be breathing in and out
while you and your brother sign the peace treaty.
So, please, go home and try.
Good luck!
We support you.
Okay! That's a good question!
(Half bell)
(Bell)