What is Judaism?

The goal of Judaism is to become a mensch through observance of mitzvos, all in the service of G-d. The goal is not to earn schar through pilpul. Study of Torah is a mitzvah and teaches about the other mitzvos. So it is very important. That's the meaning of kneged kulam. The meaning is not that Torah study is superior but that it leads to observance of mitzvos. The essence of Judaism is observance that improves you and the world. Schar is part of the picture, but is not the goal that should consume our days and nights. It is a motivator, but shouldn't be everything. Becoming a better person is the focus.

Since each person is unique and his situation is unique, the way to go about this differs from person to person. This is why a good mentor, a rav, can be helpful, because it's hard to figure all this out when you are young and when you are in the midst of the battle. However, a good mentor is nearly impossible to find. Nearly every rabbi that you will meet is Yeshivist. He doesn't see a unique individual. He knows little about people and life. He knows only the Yeshivist doctrine of Gemara, gelt, and guilt, ie engage in pilpul, make lots of money, and see mitzvos only as these things you gotta do or be punished.

Yeshivism in our times cares only about study. It doesn't care about improving the person and has a negative outlook on the person, who is seen as evil. Yeshivism throws away the mitzvos and produces a Christian like worship of study. Yeshivists want you to devote yourself to study as Christians devote themselves to JC. 

Generally speaking, rabbis do only harm. Of the hundreds of encounters that I have had with rabbis, I can count on one hand the times I was told anything helpful that I hadn't thought of myself. 98% of the time they will confuse you and thwart good plans. Thus, it's better not to talk to them at all because they do more harm than good. They are nearly all products of Yeshivism.