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At various levels. The Torah is read from beginning to end every year. On Simchat Torah, recently passed, we finish reading the Torah, roll it to the beginning and read the beginning. We study the parsha (reading) and discuss what the sages have to say about the meanings on various levels.

Within the Torah are found the 613 mitzvot -- instructions G-d gave us and these mitzvot make up our lives.

It is impossible to "study" by ones self. Just as a child is taught the alphabet and how to count, and then moves on to reading Shakespeare and advanced calculus it is impossible to be "self taught."

The Torah is studied on various levels, and these levels are called PaRDeS.

The most literal level of study is p'shat. P'shat means to read it for the literal meaning. The current parsha (Torah reading) is Vayeira (Genesis 18:1-22:24). We take it word by word, sometimes letter by letter. A great commentator for p'shat study of the Torah is Rashi. You can find a translation with his commentary on Vayeira here.

There is very little debate when it comes to p'shat because "plain meaning" is "plain meaning." There might be some discussion around minor points, but very little to really debate. Deeper levels of study are parsed as:

* Remez (רֶמֶז) - "hints" implied in the text but not explicit

* Drash (דְּרַשׁ) - which is a deeper or even midrashic (allegory / homily) meaning -- often inferred from other scripture

* Sod (סוֹד) - "secret" ("mystery") meanings

The levels of study beyond p'shat require a great deal of understanding and education, many never move beyond p'shat. Even with simple p'shat one may spend a good portion of one's life in study.