Spiritual literature stands apart from scientific, fiction, and journalistic books, and at the same time, it seems to combine elements of all other directions of literature. The answer to the question of what spiritual literature is, it would be logical to start with the definition of spirituality itself.
What is spirituality?
According to Ozhegov's dictionary, spirituality is a property of the human soul, which forces spiritual, moral and intellectual interests to be put above material wealth. Ushakov interprets spirituality as a striving for inner self-improvement, for detachment from base, rude feelings and interests.
Accordingly, spiritual literature is one that helps a person to self-develop internally and strive to rise above his base, animal nature and the satisfaction of elementary needs.
The main question that atheists have about religious treatises is who wrote the Bible (the Koran, etc.). Alas, accurate answers to it can only be given by those who are deeply devoted to the essence of the question, spiritually developed and enlightened people.
In different countries and parts of the world, it is customary to consider religious institutions in various traditions as the focus of spirituality, be it Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. that is why the fundamental works of spiritual literature in different countries are "twisted" on religious mythology, commandments, lives of saints, etc.
Religious treatises
Each religious tradition has its own so-called religious treatises - these are the "main books", which contain, as is commonly believed, some "instructions for the application" of earthly life, which takes place in adherence to a particular religion. So, for all branches of Christianity, the main religious treatise is the Bible, for Islam - the Koran, for Hinduism - the Bhagavad-gita, etc. Each spiritual tradition has its foundational scriptures.
The biographies of the saints are more than biographies of persons revered in one or another spiritual tradition. Such works usually urge readers to imitate the lifestyle of the saints as a standard for the life of a Christian, Muslim, etc.
However, this does not mean that apart from the Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad-gita, etc., there are no more spiritual treatises. So, in Hinduism (Vedic culture) there are several thousand such religious works - the Vedas.
Biographies of holy people
Another type of orthodox spiritual literature is the lives of saints. Their authors are sometimes saints themselves, sometimes unknown authors. So, in the Orthodox tradition, such examples as "The Legend of the 70 Apostles", "The Life of Archpriest Avvakum", "The Life of Sergius of Radonezh", etc. are heard.
