Dealing with a dry Torah learning experience:

Although the Torah certainly comes from a very high place up in heaven, when we study Torah down here below we do not feel or experience any pleasure and G-dly attachment in its comprehension. This is very different from the souls in the garden of Eden whose entire pleasure derives from their experience of Torah study above in which they bask in a ray of the infinite light of G-d. Specifically, this applies in the higher garden of Eden which is found within the world of Beriya in which the intellectual attributes of the infinite light of G-d shine, which corresponds to the light of Torah. In this level of the garden of Eden, the souls receive pleasure from their intellectual comprehension of the G-dliness that is found in the Torah. Now, in truth even this level of comprehension of Torah in the higher garden of Eden is incomparable to the original source of Torah within the supernal wisdom of G-d in the world of Atzilus. Now, what happened to the Torah below that when it is studied one does not feel any holy and G-dly joy or pleasure? At most, one will only feel the natural pleasure involved in intellectual comprehension of a wisdom and concept, but nothing too spiritual or G-dly. So, the answer is that when the Torah traveled below from its high state in the spiritual worlds, it took upon itself a physical connotation to the point that its spiritual pleasure and G-dly intellect is no longer recognizable. To the physical brain and intellect, all it contains are dry statutes and laws dealing with physical matters the world.

Those who plant with tears harvest with joy: It states in scripture that those who plant with tears will harvest with joy. [The simple meaning of this verse refers to a farmer who spends time planting seeds. Planting involves an investment of both time and money and one doesn’t get anything out of his investment until much later on after the produce grows and is ready for harvest. Hence, he plants with tears over the amount of time and money he must spend in the planting. However, he then later on harvests with joy when he reaps the benefits of his investment.] Now, how does this likewise apply with the study of Torah? As the studying of Torah is exactly similar to the planting of a seed. How so? As when one studies Torah it draws a light of Torah into the supernal ground in heaven and plants it there. The light of Torah which derives from the wisdom of G-d that is planted in the supernal ground in heaven is nullified to the power of growth which is the aspect of wisdom, and hence creates a growth of spiritual revelation above, just as a plant grows from a seed. The growth is the reward of the Mitzvah, which is the Divine ray of the Mitzvah itself within the garden of Eden. Within the garden of Eden the righteous sit and benefit from a ray of the divine presence and receive pleasure from the comprehension of G-dliness that they experience there. [In other words, the pleasure of the souls in the garden of Eden derives from the revelation of G-dliness that grows and is elicited from one’s Torah study below. Hence, although in this world one does not feel any pleasure from the Torah study, just as one does not feel any pleasure from eating the seeds of the plant, or in the strenuous agricultural work of planting seeds in the ground, nonetheless, in the future he will receive pleasure from his Torah study within the garden of Eden.]

One creates his own future reward: Based on the above explanation, it is understood that the reward and pleasure that souls will receive in the future era will be the fruits of one’s very own labor, as the ray of G-dliness that he will be given to take pleasure in will be the growth from the Torah study that he did in this world. [It is similar to the farmer enjoying the delicious and luscious fruits that grew from the trees that he planted.]

How the Torah study below causes a growth above: The study of the detailed physical laws of the Torah below are considered the elevation of feminine waters from below to the wisdom and will of G-d above which then elicit a return revelation from above.

The need for Bittul in order for the plant to grow from one’s seed of Torah study: Just as in the physical realm of agriculture it is not possible for a plant to grow from a seed until the seed first rots into the ground so too it is with the study of Torah. The rotting of the seed allows it to bind with the earth which causes the earth to grow from it a plant similar to it. So too with Torah study; for the Torah study of a person below to be effective above in heaven to elicit a growth of a ray of G-dliness which he will enjoy in the future era in the garden of Eden, it is necessary that the Torah study contain an element of Bittul. This means that he studies Torah and fulfills Mitzvah’s with the intent of handing over his soul to G-d. His Torah study seed must have ability to “rot” and become nullified, in contrast to being hard and impenetrable.

Studying Torah for the right intent: A person should contemplate the above message prior to the study of Torah so that his Torah study be for the correct purpose which is to serve as an elevation of feminine waters [to cause a growth of G-dliness above which will be used on behalf of his souls future pleasure in G-d]. He should not make his main focus on the secondary which is to make his entire focus on the Torah as it exists below in its physical connotations [to comprehend the physical wisdom, as he would do with any other field of wisdom]. Rather, he should place his hearts focus on the inner G-dliness hidden within his Torah study which is rooted within the supernal wisdom of G-d. He is to understand that he is literally having a discussion with the word of G-d Himself. When a person studies Torah with this in mind then his Torah study will act as feminine waters that are elevated above and unite with their root and source in the supernal wisdom. In contrast, one who says that he only cares about the physical connotations of the Torah then even Torah he does not have.

• The Divine lesson: In today’s Orthodox educational system, boys spend a good portion of the first 20+ years of their lives dedicated to full-time Torah study. Great emphasis is placed on scholastic achievement, to know and understand well the material and conquer one Misechta after another. Those who don’t have such a good head for learning end up falling through the cracks, and either drop out of yeshiva, or remain in it for the social environment but don’t really learn anything all year. The above teaching can help veer both the successful and unsuccessful yeshiva student back onto the right track. The Torah Masmid, and those on the top of their Shiur, must recognize that their main focus is not simply to conquer and comprehend the material subject that they are learning, but to literally create for themselves an investment of G-dly light on behalf of their future. Their study is one of agriculture in which they take the precious tasteless seed of the wisdom of G-d as found in the Torah of the material world, and plant it in the heavenly spheres through studying it with Bittul to Hashem. This same teaching should also be used as a motivating factor for those who don’t have such a good head for learning. Even if it is clear that they will not become the next Gadol Hador, they should know that their Torah study, as shallow as it may be, contains the same preciousness as the Torah study of the Masmid, and when they study Torah for the right reasons to attach to G-d through studying His wisdom, they are planting the seeds of their future Gan Eden in which they too will merit to bask in G-dliness. Just because one doesn’t have the ability to plant a hundred acres of fruit trees doesn’t mean that he should also not try plant one in his backyard.