Now that it has become clear that the main benefit that we have received from Hashem is the benefit given to the soul, it follows that each individual in accord with the assistance that the Holy One granted him to serve Him, to that extent he is obligated to love his Creator for the abundance of good he received personally]. For one cannot compare the benefit that all of Israel enjoys in general—in that Hashem gave us the Torah of truth, statutes and good mitzvos—to the benefit of an individual upon whom Hashem bestowed strength, health and tranquility for the sake of the service of Hashem, may He be blessed. And, more, one whose lot Hashem assigned to be among those who dwell in the beis midrash (study hall) has received a benefit greater than others. Someone whom Hashem has graced with the wisdom and knowledge needed to conduct himself with good and upright character traits and to recognize the disgrace of prohibitions and negative traits—to distance himself from them in such manner that he finds favor and good understanding in the eyes of Hashem and man—this is an extremely great an unfathomable gift. From all the foregoing, one must realize that a person is obligated to love his Creator with passionate love, commensurate with the abundance of good that he received from Hashem]; one must think deeply and broadly in pure thoughts until one’s heart bursts into the flames of fiery love for the Creator.
