Do not seek the truth. Only cease to cherish opinions.

[As we practice] we patiently refuse the domination of thoughts and opinions about events, about people; and we constantly turn back to the only certain reality: the present moment.

All of practice is to return ourselves to pure experiencing. out of that will emerge very adequate thinking and action. Usually, we are unable to do this, however: instead we act in obedience to the thoughts and opinions that spin in our heads -- which is backwards.

Suzuki Roshi said:
Renunciation is not giving up the things of this world,
but accepting that they go away.

It's not that "I" hear the birds, it's just hearing the birds. Let yourself be hearing, seeing, thinking. It is the false "I" that interrupts the wonder with the constant desire to think about "I." And all the while THE WONDER is occurring: the birds sing, the cars go by, the body sensations continue, the heart is beating -- life is a second-by-second miracle. But dreaming our "I" dreams we miss it.

Everything is impermanent;
sooner or later everything
goes away.
Renunication is a state
of non-attachment,
acceptance of
THIS
going away.