His Holiness Pope Shenouda III’s Lecture at the Book Fair — A Talk on the Mind

In this lecture His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the mind as a multifaceted human attribute, focusing on the differences in types of minds and their functions and the impact of external and internal influences on them.

The main idea of the lecture

The main idea is that the mind is not one fixed thing, but differs in quality (intelligent, genius, average, weak), in its ability to lead or to be led, and in the strength of memory and understanding matters from multiple angles. The mind may lead a person or be led by other factors.

Classifications and manifestations of the mind

• Quality of mind: intelligence and variation in capacities.

• Strength of memory: memorizer, collector, photographic or weak.

• Comprehensiveness of understanding: sees matters from all sides or from one angle.

• Mind’s susceptibility to fatigue and closure: some minds imprison themselves in a problem and find no way out, which causes psychological fatigue.

What restricts the mind or leads it astray

It may be led by: continuous doubt that gnaws at the mind, fear that paralyzes thinking, ignorance or rejection of knowledge, rigid principles that imprison thought, blind obedience to a teacher or leader, and the influence of rumors, news, friends, society, and books.

The mind and faith

Doubting in matters of faith and miracles leads to spiritual fatigue and opens the door to atheistic or negative ideas. The mind does not necessarily conflict with faith but there are matters above the level of ordinary mind such as creation, miracles, and the afterlife that require a balance between thought and faith.

The human duty towards his mind

A person ought to strive to have a mind that is free and examining: verify before believing, deliberate before making quick judgments, and make principles and influence from others a means not a restriction that confines free thinking. He also calls for educating the mind with good books, research, and discernment.

Spiritual and educational conclusion

The summary is that the mind is a gift that must be used wisely: we must cultivate a sound memory and understanding, protect the mind from destructive doubt, incapacitating fear, and restrictive ignorance, and make it an instrument of service and discernment with balance between knowledge and faith.

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