or

We translate what we hear, according to our knowledge, our background

or

We compare what is being said to what is already known

or

we oppose one idea using another

All of these characterisitcs appearing denies the act of listening.

When you want to listen there is no comparing, there is no acceptance or rejection, that the act of listening brings about a total attention in which you see the totality and all significance and structure of what is being said.

The quality of listening is attention and when you attend totally and with your whole mind, with your heart and your nerves and your eyes and your ears and intensely listen and you give your whole attention to something.. that is when you completely listen.

In that state of attention there is the act of listening and that act of listening puts away anything that is not true.
You listen to the totality of the day and you attend, there is no border of inattention and that act of listening is really a miracle, perhaps the greatest miracle, when one can listen totally without any defiance, without any barriers.. then one can look, then one can listen.