(Minghui.org) A cherished yearly tradition in the Baltic region is the summer retreat where locals take advantage of the long days of their short summer to enjoy the resort towns that line the coasts. People indulge in a variety of relaxing activities, from bathing in hot springs to mineral treatments and hiking in majestic pine forests.
For Latvian Falun Dafa practitioners, these retreats take on a different flavor. Since 2024, they’ve marked the end of summer each year with a gathering to meditate together, study the teachings of their spiritual practice, and share understandings in improving their character according to the core principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
This year, from August 28 to 30, they held a retreat in the scenic coastal town of Apšuciems and were joined by practitioners from Lithuania.
Practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises on the coast of the Baltic Sea during their retreat from August 28 to 30, 2026. (Minghui.org)
Introducing Falun Dafa to Engure and Tukums
This year’s retreat included trips to two nearby towns, Engure and Tukums. Practitioners used this opportunity to introduce Falun Dafa in places where they usually do not hold informational events. They told residents about Falun Dafa and how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes the practice.
Some locals listened to information about the practice with interest. As soon as others learned about the repression, they signed a petition calling for an end to the torture and killing of people for adhering to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises at an event in Tukums. (Minghui.org)
Some passersby said they’ve previously seen practitioners in other places—usually in Riga near the Chinese Embassy, where they hold posters calling for an end to the repression and invite people to sign an international petition addressed to the G7+7 nations.
Learning to Look Within During Conflicts
Practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises in Apšuciems. (Minghui.org)
During their three days in Apšuciems, practitioners read Zhuan Falun, Falun Dafa’s main text.
Raimonds participated in the retreat and said that one of his goals was to “focus on other people’s strong points and talents,” and not on the parts “not aligned with my own thinking.”
He said this was a recent insight he had about himself in his spiritual improvement and he sought to use the retreat as an opportunity to challenge himself. “Over the next few days when I met other people, even those whom I previously didn’t like, I tried to see their strong parts. During this process I actually noticed how many talents other people have, how much I can learn from them, and how dedicated they are,” said Raimonds.
“From this experience, I truly believe that nothing happens by chance. Each conflict is an opportunity to improve one’s character instead of looking outward. We should look at problems from different perspectives and see bad as good and good as an opportunity not to fall into comfort. Different challenges allow us to grow,” he added.
Raimonds also believed that the environment at the retreat, which focuses on introspection, helped him deepen his own spiritual understanding and was “an amazing experience.”
Putting Altruism Into Practice
For Liene, the retreat was an opportunity to connect with other practitioners and hear their insights into their own cultivation. She said she had a tendency to isolate herself from others, which can result in her being perceived as uncaring, and it makes it hard for her to reach out and get help from others.
“I am coming to realize more and more how important it is to put others first. If we all truly do so, it will create great strength and a good effect. Conversely, if we focus only on ourselves, isolate ourselves from others, and try to deal with our difficulties alone, this process can drag on much longer,” said Liene.
She said the retreat “Reminded me once again how essential it is not to remain closed off in oneself and truly care for others.”
Each participant deeply valued the opportunity to come together as one body, which inspired them to be even more diligent in their practice. Everyone headed home in high spirits, with renewed energy and inspiration for shared plans in the year ahead.
Participants of the retreat take a group photo to commemorate the event. (Minghui.org)
Editor’s Note: The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental political forum comprising the world’s major developed nations, aimed at discussing and coordinating on global economic and political issues. The G7 members are the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The “+7” countries in the “G7+7” grouping include Argentina, Australia, India, Israel, Mexico, South Korea, and Taiwan.
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