Whether Minds Are Different or Not
People have differed on whether minds are different or not. There is no point in quoting the words of those who are deprived of the knowledge of the soul. The most accurate approach is to immediately try to explain the true path.
The clear truth on this matter is as follows: The mind we described earlier, which consists of four parts, differs among people only in three of these parts, not in the second part, which relates to the necessary knowledge. The knowledge of the necessary (ilm-i zarüriye) indicates that things that are possible can occur, and things that are not possible cannot occur. The mind that knows that two entities cannot be in more than one place at the same time, and that a thing cannot be both eternal and temporary, is certain that what the mind understands is in accordance with this, and also knows other things. There is no difference in this aspect. However, there is a difference in the other three parts.
The fourth part, which is the mind (akl-i müstefâdda) that conquers desires, is not present in all people, and even among individuals, it is not the same in every person. This difference sometimes arises from the diversity of desires. For example, a person may be able to renounce some desires with their mind, but not others. This is not always the case. For instance, in youth, a person may be unable to control their desires, but when they grow old and the mind takes control, they become dominant in this aspect. In contrast, as they grow older, their desire for display and status increases, and they are unable to overcome these. This difference sometimes arises from the difference in the nature of desires. For this reason, a physician protects themselves from many harmful substances, but another person who has the same mind but accepts the harm of such things, and is not a physician, cannot protect themselves from these harmful things. As knowledge increases, fear increases as well, and thus fear becomes an aid in overcoming desires. This is the case in material life, and similarly in spiritual matters. A scholar who more strongly knows the harms of errors protects themselves better than others. However, when we say ‘scholar,’ we do not mean the person who has studied for material reasons, worn robes, and occupied a position, but rather the true scholar who studies for the sake of God.
If the cause of the difference is desire, then it does not relate to the mind’s difference. That is, it is not due to the diversity of minds. If the cause of the difference is from the perspective of knowledge, then we have called this part of knowledge ‘mind.’ Because in this aspect, knowledge strengthens the mind’s intuition. This difference is in the meaning of the name. This difference sometimes arises from nature. The person whose mind is strong by nature better protects themselves from the desires of the soul.
Regarding the third part, which is the knowledge of experience: No one can deny the difference in this aspect. Sometimes they differ due to chance, and sometimes due to the speed of progression. The cause of this is also the difference in nature or the lack of order.
The essential part is the first part…