Mindfully listening to your teacher is a form of training

Listening to your instructor mindfully is a form of push hand training. It is also Qi Cultivation . Every time that you open your mouth in the middle of your instructors presentation, It pulls your Qi out of your Dantian. " It" takes you away from following and it's similar to allowing a dog to drag you around by its leash . The

" dog" , as I often refer to "It", is your subconscious mind. When your subconscious mind does not follow your intention, your energy is dispersed. A skilled practitioner will team up with that dispersed energy and use it against you . Learning how to be completely empty and receptive is a peaceful and freeing state of mind. You are not being dragged around by your fears, desires, and expectations. You're not afraid of losing the question that you formulated in your head that acts as clutter. You are simply still and you have eliminated the middleman ( subconscious mind ) so that you may be quicker in your response and more natural . Use these opportunities to train your mind instead of allowing it to get cluttered with frustrations, and your push hands skill will start to elevate. Every time you allow the dog to tug on his leash, it pulls your Qi out of your Dantian. it is a form of resistance. When your mind is not cluttered with fears, desires, and expectations then it is calm and able to follow your partners movements, effortlessly.