Hilchos Lashon Hara, Opening – positive commands (12)

Above all, while a person speaks lashon hara and rechilus, he is breaking the positive commandment of Torah study. This is a full positive commandment, and its reward has no limit - it is equal to all the commandments together. And the other way around: the punishment for neglecting it is equal to all the sins, as the sages say, "The Holy One forwent the sin of idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed, but did not forgo the sin of neglect of Torah."

A person who is busy earning a living or looking for work will be cleared of this sin in the Heavenly court. But while he is speaking lashon hara or rechilus - what does that do for his income? He also breaks several negative commandments that apply to someone who turns away from the Torah.