Dear Friends, please ask questions about these passages from the great Kabbalists. The commentaries in brackets are mine.

Studying the Concealed Torah Is Preferable to the Revealed Torah

Indeed, if we examine his [Rav Chaim Vital’s] words they will clarify before us as pure heavenly stars. The text, “he is better off leaving his hand off it [off the Talmud], once he has tested his luck in this [revealed] wisdom,” does not refer to luck of wit and erudition [knowledge for the sake of knowledge]. Rather, it is as we have explained above in the explanation, “I have created the evil inclination; I have created for it the spice of Torah.”

It means that one has delved and exerted in the revealed Torah [not for the sake of getting knowledge, but rather for correcting the evil inclination, egoism], and still the evil inclination is in power and has not melted at all. This is because he is still not saved from thoughts of transgression [understanding that he studies not to correct evil, but rather for the sake of getting a reward], as Rashi writes above in the explanation, “I have created for it the spice of Torah.”

Hence, he advises him to leave his hands off it [off Talmud] and engage in the wisdom of truth [Kabbalah], for it is easier to draw the light in the Torah while practicing and laboring in the wisdom of truth than in laboring in the literal Torah.
– Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Item 22
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