Three Principles Class, November 2014

November 2014 Class Photo

Just a note to say a special thank you to all of the wonderful people who attended the November, 2014, session of the Three Principles School here on Salt Spring Island, as well as those who came to the spring session. Both sessions for the 2014 year were landmark events in our shared efforts to keep the essence of Sydney Banks’ vision for the world alive and expanding.

When Mr. Banks experienced his powerful insight in 1973, he was gifted with a profound vision of the spiritual nature of life, and in turn, a completely new and foundational understanding of the human psychological experience. From that moment on, until his passing in 2009, he dedicated his life to relieving human suffering. He shared his knowledge freely with any and all who sought peace and understanding in their lives. He did so by speaking in a very direct, straightforward and simple manner about the precious Principles he had uncovered. He often said, “Don’t listen to my words, listen for a feeling,” then spoke “soul to soul” with people in a way that awakened their own wisdom. Thousands were impacted; changed forever by what they came to see within themselves. The nature and depth of the change in those who heard has sent powerful ripples of hope throughout a world in need.

The Three Principles School was founded, at Syd’s urging, to help share the essence or true nature of the Principles “as discovered and taught by Sydney Banks” in as direct and simple a manner as possible; with deep regard for the power of a beautiful feeling, and inherent respect for the spiritual fact that everyone already has the truth and wisdom they seek within them. In doing our best to honor those ideals, we have been given a beautiful gift in return. Those who have come have done so because they are continuing to live in a nicer and nicer feeling of life and want to deepen their understanding of the Principles and their own true nature. As such, people arrive, even at the “meet and greet” with the excitement of discovery, an openness to the unknown and a genuine desire to experience the feeling that is evoked when we look in that spiritual direction together. With this as a starting place, with this kind of openness and permission, you have made the school what it is. Thank you so, so much.

A key element of Syd’s vision was that the Principles he had uncovered were the missing link to a new understanding of the human psychological experience. He foresaw what we are witnessing today: the emergence of a new psychology, grounded in immutable Principles, thereby becoming a true science. At both 2014 sessions, we were privileged to have eminently qualified guest speakers from the fields of psychiatry and psychology; courageous pioneers in the development and application of this new science.

In June, Dr. George Pransky, a psychologist, and his wife Linda, a therapist, shared their own story of discovery and deep personal change after encountering Sydney Banks in the nineteen seventies. That change led them to a whole new understanding of how to help their clients find mental health and peace of mind and, in turn, how to guide other professionals to this new understanding, a mission they whole heartedly embrace to this day. Dr. Pransky went on to place Mr. Banks’ discoveries in the historical context of a complete paradigm shift for the field; one which elevated it from a vast collection of derivative theories, to a true, principle-based science poised to bring mental health to millions.

In November, Dr. Bill Pettit, a psychiatrist with a multitude of board certifications, and his wife, Dr. Linda Pettit, a distinguished therapist and teacher, shared many beautiful stories of the changes and powerful recoveries they’ve seen over and over again in their practices through the years. Once again these preeminent professionals traced the genesis of their understanding back to the personal experiences they had, as a result of listening to a simple working man share the Principles and understanding he had uncovered. Dr. Bill Pettit stated that he was so amazed in the early days by the profound changes he saw in clients, he began to see that there was “hope for a cure;” but now, after years of seeing such powerful results in his work and the work of countless others, he states without hesitation, “There is a cure.”

Portions of these landmark talks are available on this site for you to experience for yourself, with more to follow. Once again, a heartfelt thank you to Bill and Linda Pettit and George and Linda Pransky for their invaluable contributions to the Three Principles School, and for shining a light on Syd’s vision for the fields of psychiatry and psychology, and the power the Three Principles have to serve humanity.

In closing, a big thank-you to all of the volunteers who make the Three Principles School possible. The work leading up to the sessions, the staging of the event itself, the filming and editing; everything is done with so much love and dedication. It’s hard to imagine a better, more committed team. Thank You!