The Mishna in Avot (3:7) states: “One who walks along a road and studies, and interrupts his studying to say, “How beautiful is this tree!”, “How beautiful is this ploughed field!”—the Torah considers it as if he had forfeited his life.”
On this Rabbi Ovadia of Bartenura states that though when an individual sees a beautiful tree he recites a blessing that G-d created such formations in this world, it is nevertheless considered as if he forfeited his life, as he interrupted the study of Torah.
However, this seems problematic: If the individual indeed recognizes G-d and recites a blessing why does he forfeit his life?
Reb Mendel of Kotzk answered this in this the following way:[1]
In general to perceive G-dliness there are two ways; one by the way of philosophical analyses and the other through the study of Torah.
Before the giving of the Torah, our forefather Avraham came to the realization that there is a creator through rational investigation, however, after the giving of the Torah, we are exhorted to cease philosophical questioning and discover G-d in Torah.
It is this thought that is expressed in this Mishna. If a person turns away from the study of Torah, towards questions of rational investigation, such as “where is the source of growth of this tree?”
Even though through these questions he discovers G-d, and blesses Him, it is nevertheless considered a forfeiture of one’s life as he should have discovered G-d through the study of Torah.
[1] Emet Mkotzk Tizmach, Pg. 36
