Three Principles Foundation

Welcome to the Three Principles Foundation

A not-for-profit organization, dedicated to sharing the Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought as taught by Sydney Banks, and to preserving them in their purest and most powerful form.

A Special Note from Chip Chipman

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

For over fifteen years, I have had the privilege of serving as president of the Three Principles Foundation. I was honored to do so at the request of Sydney Banks in 2008, the year prior to his passing in 2009. Shortly after I took on this role, he asked that I
establish the Three Principles School on Salt Spring Island along with Elsie Spittle as my teaching partner and a team of dedicated volunteers. The first session of the school was presented in August of 2008; attended and guided by Syd himself.

It has been a deeply rewarding journey to watch Syd’s vision for relieving human suffering spread throughout the world. With the Foundation as a vehicle, we have done our best to honor Syd’s wishes for the Three Principles School: to “keep it simple,
speak from the heart, and trust the feeling.” These words have guided our efforts to share and support his vision and mission.

Thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers who have given selflessly of their time and talents, hundreds from all over the world were able to attend the school on Salt Spring from 2008 to 2021, in person until just before the Pandemic, and then with virtual sessions. Over the past few years, we have come to see and to state that all involved, and especially those who attended, “are the school”. Those who have come have returned to their lives and communities with their own deep insights into the true nature of the Principles as well as into their own true nature. In turn they are sharing Syd’s message and vision with countless others. In this organic way and with a minimum of form, the school has spread worldwide and will continue to do so, person to person, soul to soul for generations. Because of this, the essential mission of the School and a primary mission of the foundation has been realized.

The Foundation has also maintained an informative website and network of communication dedicated to preserving the legacy of Syd’s life and work. The volunteer efforts of the team, as well as the income from the school and private donations, have made it possible to send Syd’s materials to practitioners and communities worldwide. The Foundation website has helped bring an awareness of the importance of preserving the authenticity and integrity of Syd’s work, allowing more access and availability to the pure essence of what he offered to a world in need of understanding and mental health.

In light of the Foundation’s accomplishments, and with a sense of gratitude and respect for the role I have had, I announce that the Three Principles Foundation will no longer operate as an organization. The rich audio and visual materials of the Foundation website will continue to be available on the site as a resource for those who are interested. We request your patience as we take the steps to archive these wonderful materials.

There are so many people to thank; Elsie Spittle, who shared her wisdom and has been so dedicated to supporting Syd’s vision in countless ways; my wife Jan Chipman, who originally saw a new vision for the Foundation; our amazing team of volunteers, the many donors who gave their unconditional support, the wonderful guest speakers, and most of all, all the attendees of the school who often travelled far and long, who shared their insights during sessions and are now sharing with and inspiring others worldwide.

From the bottom of my heart, and I know I speak for Syd, Elsie and all the team, past and present, of the Three Principles Foundation, thank you, thank you for being part of the profound and rare opportunity to share the understanding of Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought with the world.

Sincerely,

Chip Chipman

Acknowledgement.

With the deepest gratitude to Tom and Jane Tucker for their tireless commitment to the operation of the website and the school.

What are the Three Principles?

Watch Video

The Three Principles School

The Three Principles School was founded in 2008, by Chip Chipman and Elsie Spittle, at the request of Sydney Banks. He guided us through the first three classes, and his last talks before an audience were given there.

The last and final session of the School was held in April of 2022, via Zoom.

Watch the video to see what Syd had to say about founding the Three Principles School…

Learn More

Excerpt from April 2022 School Session

This is the first clip from recordings made at the final session of the Three Principles School, held via Zoom in April of 2022. More videos from this session include beautiful sharing by mental health professionals and others about the hope Syd’s message holds for the world, and a very special talk by Elsie Spittle.