To perform a mitzvah that cannot be delegated to another one forgoes Torah study, even the study of maaseh merkavah (the sublime Kabbalistic mysteries of the celestial Chariot), and beyond question one forgoes prayer... (Tanya Kuntres Acharon 4)

As I posted in some previous entries, the purpose of life in this world and creation itself, to attach to the infinite. While study is critical (and it's clearly explained that Torah study is equivelent to all mitzvot), the mitzvot attach the physical to the Infinite. It's not an opportunity to be missed!