Very little separates the approaches of the Tanya and the Nefesh HaChaim. Tachlis is understanding of the Torah in front of us stressed by Reb Chaim of Volozhin. Tanya stresses that when immersed in Torah we join with the Infinite One hidden in the subject being learned. Struggling in Torah is of the utmost importance even when using english translations. Only Torah is the food and sustenance of the soul.