Torah studied out of habit, without personal motive yet lacking any intention of lishmah, cannot ascend on high to be absorbed into the sefirot. The Alter Rebbe now proceeds to explain why this is so.

The difficulty: The Torah and G-d are altogether one, for the Torah is G-d’s will. Thus, the Torah is higher even than the sefirot, just as G-d’s will transcends the sefirot. Why then does the Torah need one’s kavanah to elevate it to the sefirot?