The teacher rouses your spirit/energy, and opens up a world where ego not only has no dominion but is an embarrassing hindrance. The student then goes away to practice, which means rehabilitating the ego in the light of the new experience. So what has really changed? What value does practice have? Practice is just your way of surviving the constant onslaught of the teaching without putting up defences, without getting cynical or jaded. Each time you practice, the ego weakens a fraction, and in time it may largely fall away, especially when it's not needed. This is the only sure way to proceed – gently, gently – little by little.