203. The Torah Is Acquired through Suffering
Why these suffering? There is a rule, “There is no light without a Kli [vessel].” That is, there is no pleasure without a prior need for the pleasure, and the need is called “suffering,” when one aches at not having pleasure. For this reason, we cannot obtain the light of Torah without a need for the light of Torah, meaning without suffering at not having the light of Torah. Through this suffering, one acquires the light of Torah.
Therefore, when one learns, he should make his Torah into a prayer, to feel a deficiency in the fact that he does not understand the Torah. When one understands, it cannot be said that he is deficient, although he can believe above reason that he does not understand. Nevertheless, above reason we do not feel the lack, since a person feels what comes into his mind.