(Minghui.org) Located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, the Loire Valley is famous for its magnificent châteaux (castles). Over 50 young Falun Dafa practitioners attended the Minghui School Summer Camp in the Château d’Alleret in the Loire Valley this summer.
Ranging in age from three to over 20, they came from France, other European countries, and Taiwan. During the two-week-long camp, the children studied Falun Dafa’s teachings, did the exercises, participated in different activities, and learned from each other.
Students and teachers did the Falun Dafa exercises every morning.
Campers read the Falun Dafa teachings together.
Campers meditating
A group picture of the participants
Improving in the Group Environment
Every day, the campers did the exercises together and read the Falun Dafa teachings in different languages as the counselors guided those who were too young to read.
In this calm and reflective environment, the participants said they were able to gain a deeper understanding of the Fa teachings. Some said they learned to apply the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance even when trivial things happened, which improved their xinxing.
Kindness and Forgiveness
Will said the students at his school often tease each other, so, without meaning to, he hurt the feelings of another camper, eight-year-old André. After a counselor reminded him of the section “Loss and Gain” in Lecture Four of Zhuan Falun, Will realized his mistake and apologized. André forgave him, and they got along well after that. They both learned the importance of being considerate of others.
Maxime, who is nine, used to think others treated him badly. He talked with a counselor and understood the importance of being kind even during conflicts. He also learned to reach out to others, and this confidence helped him make new friends.
Breakthroughs
Like these young children, the teenage campers said they also gained insights into how to cultivate during their daily activities.
Daniel, 20, used to practice Falun Dafa because of his parents, but he’s now begun cultivating in earnest on his own. When he stepped away from cultivation, he said he felt empty and lost. This made him more determined to practice Dafa.
An older camper gave Augustin, 13, a hard time. When Augustin was assigned to watch over younger children at camp, he thought, “Maybe that older camper’s behavior is a mirror—so I can see how I used to treat other people.” He reflected on his own behavior and learned to be nicer to others rather than just doing everything his way.
Borna, 22, said cultivation practice helped him find inner peace, instead of relying on others to find balance. “Hopefully, from the positive changes in me, more people will witness the power of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” he said.
Mattus learned that having fun is not what’s most important. Instead, calming down to understand oneself and improving through looking within is more meaningful.
Positive Attitude
Seventeen-year-old Apolline said she was bullied at school. Fortunately, Falun Dafa teaches her to look at this from a different angle. Everyone has his or her own struggles, and even the bullies may be having a hard time. “At this summer camp, I learned to be sincere and treat others kindly without seeking anything in return. This is what’s most important to me as a practitioner,” she explained.
Robin, 23, debated with himself for a long time about whether he should attend the camp. “As soon as I arrived, I could feel the energy and warmth here,” he recalled. He knew he’d made the right choice.
Learning from Each Other
The campers wrote down their experiences and read them to everyone. From young children to teenagers, they all listened attentively and reflected on themselves.
Some campers talked about how they let go of their attachments, while others talked about kindness, responsibilities, and making choices. “These are voices from their heart and a testimony of their improvement,” one counselor said.
Looking back on their summer camp experiences, the students said they not only had a good time, but they also gained new understandings about what it means to cultivate: It means being considerate of others, looking within for where you can do better, and remaining truthful and compassionate during conflicts.
“Being a Falun Dafa practitioner allows me to constantly eliminate attachments to be a better person. By finding opportunities to improve our xinxing, we can get closer to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” wrote 13-year-old Leo. “I want to participate in the camp next year.”
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