I Ching

Innocence implies a natural harmlessness, openness and pure intentions which are unsullied by ulterior motives.  The state of innocence has less to do with age than attitude; innocence springs from a heart which remains open to joy and wonder.  Innocence, when guided by a firm faith in what is right, brings supreme success.  Naivete unanchored by an ability to discern right from wrong, on the other hand, brings misfortune.

The hallmark of innocence is a willingness to treat all creatures with compassion and respect.

Those who possess a pure heart are best guided by their instincts and intuition.  Thinking too much severs links with the guidance of the heart: namely, a clear intuition and strong guiding instincts.  Be wary of courses of action which require too much cleverness.

1. The first impulses of the heart are almost always pure and good.  It is safe to follow them confidently, provided your conscience is not offended.  When you reach an impasse in tangled affairs, it is often helpful to review the original impulse for that action, to examine the original purpose.
2. The superior farmer doesn’t calculate the harvest while still plowing the field.  Success in the current situation is likely, so long as you don’t try to measure how well you are doing while you are still in the field.  Focus on the task at hand.  Like the farmer, cultivate your field one row at a time, focus on the work, and the rewards will take care of themselves.
3. Unexpected and undeserved misfortune can befall even the most innocent.  In such situations, it is of no use to claim that you have been treated unfairly; as parents tell their children, life is unfair, the world is unfair.  There is nothing to do in the face of unfair loss except to accept it with equanimity.
4. Remember, that if something truly belongs to or with you, it cannot be taken from you.  Let go of it and it will naturally return to you.  Similarly, as long as you are true to yourself, and listen to your intuition, you can make no mistakes.
5. Sudden misfortune! It is important to discover whether a misfortune has been an accident of nature, or the result of your own mistakes.  If it was an accident, take no action; let nature take its course without interference.  Do not try to come up with a clever quick-fix solution.
6. Even innocent action can backfire if the timing is not right for progress.  When there is little hope in a situation, the best thing to do is to wait peacefully.  Otherwise, you run the risk of creating trouble for yourself and others.