Purpose of studying spiritual teachings

How does the spiritual teachings affect us?
What is the purpose of reading spiritual teachings?
I imagine these things vary greatly from person to person.

One person isn't affected by a work at all. Perhaps ever repelled by it. Another finds it life changing, and has great peace.

The purpose? Trying to understand something. Maybe the meaning of life. Maybe what someone else is talking about. If one has a good relationship with a teaching, perhaps to find some kind of encouragement. If one has a bad relationship with a teaching, perhaps to pick it apart.

And of course, not all teachings can be read... some must be experienced, taught directly, or observed.
 
How does the spiritual teachings affect us?
If you are referring to the founding teachings, two spring to mind for me, Buddhas Noble Eightfold Path and the Beatitudes from the NT. The affect was that of certainty, an "oh we are on to something here" moment.

I firmly believe that spiritual teaching is a continuing process and have found several modern writers to be very impressive. Three of my favourites, are: Sangharakshita, Richard Rohr and Llwellyn Vaughan Lee.

As for purpose, post 2 by JustGeorge answers this well I think.
 
If these questions were posed to you, how would you answer?
Spiritual teaching to me is the essess of human life, it affects us to be ready to necome one with the universe.
The purpose of spiritual teaching is to awake to the cosmic truth. This is only my understanding
 
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