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The experience of a person first entering the gates of Chassidus is much sweeter than that of even the great tzaddikim who are already inside. This is like a person who enters a candy store. The shop-keeper, wanting to sell his merchandise, lets him taste a bit from the sweetest confections. But after the buyer has tasted everything and would like to try more, the shop-keeper informs him that he must pay. "At the beginning, I gave you a taste so that you could know how good everything is. Now that you like it, you must pay. I didn't treat you for nothing!" The same applies to a person who enters the garden of Chassidus. G-d lets him taste from the hidden light. The person overcomes his negative inclinations, and returns everything to the good. He gets a taste of avodas Hashem (serving G-d), and the pleasure of true prayer. But once he recognizes the sweetness of Chassidus, he must work hard, for that is the only way to acquire it. From the Baal Shem Tov
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