Avoid mistakes in the way of listening and generate the proper attitudes. The wrong attitudes are described by analogy with 3 pots: 

(1) a leaky pot which can’t hold its contents, from not concentrating;

(2) an upside-down pot, if there are many distracting thoughts, nothing can go inside: be mindful and reflect on the meaning of the teaching; 

(3) a defiled pot, a stained pot: this is listening to the teaching with the wrong motivation, wanting to

gain some benefit from it for this life.

-- Ling Rinpoche