(Clearwisdom.net) Teacher said, "The third thing is your sending forth righteous thoughts. These are the three things that Dafa disciples need to do at present. Sending forth righteous thoughts is another really magnificent thing for our Dafa disciples. This overwhelming persecution of Dafa, of Dafa students, and of the world's people that has happened since July 20th of 1999 is unprecedented. In history, the persecutions of Christianity, Buddhism, and other religions were never this evil. Back then there weren't massive media apparatuses like these, transportation means weren't advanced, either, and persecutions were limited to small regions. Today, China's area is vast, and the number of sentient beings who've been victimized is very large - in China alone more than a billion people have been directly victimized. But this persecution isn't limited to just China. This persecution is actually worldwide - the slander has poisoned people's minds the world over. Meanwhile, the lies and propaganda that have blanketed the earth have put enormous pressure on Dafa disciples... When Dafa disciples send forth righteous thoughts, pure and righteous thoughts, to clean out the evil's persecution of them, that's allowed - the old Fa-principles include principles like that as well. This is the same idea as approaching cultivation with righteous thoughts, or as saving sentient beings with righteous thoughts." ---- Touring North America to Teach the Fa

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Recently, British elementary schools had a week-long vacation. I invited some young practitioners (close in age to my daughter -- about 9) to my home so that their parents could have more time to do Dafa work, and the children could study the Fa, cultivate, and send forth righteous thoughts together.

The innocence and happiness of the children was admirable. The room echoed with their sparkling laughter. Whilst playing, the nature of the children was totally revealed. Whilst studying the Fa, practicing cultivation, and sending forth righteous thoughts, each was serious, sincere and solemn. In a week of sending righteous thoughts together, the children's innocence also affected me. I found that I could achieve a tranquil mind more easily. I seemed to feel that I was one with the children's innocent mind and my own mind became simple, clear, and tranquil.

I asked the children whether they could achieve a tranquil mind easily when sending forth righteous thoughts. They answered together with a resounding "Yes!" I asked them whether distracting thoughts ever disturbed them and they replied "very little." I was not surprised at their answers. When I was with them in that week, I frequently and unconsciously entered the condition of my childhood. The innocent inborn nature was naturally revealed and the activities of my mind were also simple. I became ingenuous and childlike. The so-called logic, reasoning, and conceptions that have formed my habit of thinking seemed to no longer exist. I felt that the memory and the condition of my childhood were gradually awakened in me. The children often laughed at me and called me "childlike," but I still enjoyed it greatly.

From this experience, I realize that the tremendous changes in the world and the weariness of the years have formed a firm mode and process of thinking in our minds. This "programming" of thoughts produces many of the notions of human beings. Its principle is like a computer program. Only by breaking the programs of "human" thoughts, which merely belong to humans, can we be freed from the "human" bondage, and escaping from the imprisonment of being "human," so that our inborn nature can freely take control of the activities of life.

Children are innocent. Before completing the formation of those programs of thoughts, they live naturally. In the little Dafa practitioners, we can see it more clearly. When sending forth righteous thoughts, Teacher said, "because they don't have the postnatally formed notions that adults have, their nature is purer and the energy they send out isn't affected by everyday people's thoughts." (Touring North America to Teach the Fa) People often say that practicing cultivation can make adults return to childhood. I think that this does not only mean that cultivation improves our physical health, but also means that it can make our mind pure and childlike. Maybe Lao Zi's words "Returning to infants" refers this too.

Now whenever I send forth righteous thoughts, it seems that the thoughts come from my innocent inborn nature, and nothing can disturb me. The distracting thoughts that had bothered me before seem not able to enter the strong energy field around me, which is formed by the righteous thoughts. My heart is as still as water; the brightness is like lightening.

Above are my personal understandings. Any correction will be greatly appreciated.