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Non-violence
To protect the child from becoming a victim of family violence, friends and practitioners are invited to gather parents and propose a peace treaty with clauses such as:
- No outbursts of violence in the presence of the child.
- When anger or violence arises, practice mindful breathing, mindful walking, or mindful looking.
- Sign a written agreement—adapted from the peace treaty of Plum Village—that both father and mother commit to.
- Exchange a tiny paper “bell of mindfulness” in wallets, bearing a loving reminder of one’s best self, so that when irritation flares the other can read it and restore compassion.
This engaged practice extends beyond the home to schools and communities:
• Teachers ally with parents to monitor and care for children’s well-being, offering them a chance to report abuse.
• Every city can establish a Telecompassion helpline where suffering children call for help.
• Writers, parents’ and teachers’ organizations publish articles and organize strategy discussions on child protection.
• Families practice collective mindfulness—at least one shared meal daily as a festival of togetherness, interwoven with silence and the Five Contemplations—to nurture gratitude, love, and peace as the foundation for healing personal and societal violence.
