Coming Across Sydney Banks

In my decade-long tenure as a mental health clinician, the term ‘innate’ health made its way into my awareness rather belatedly. Despite my extensive clinical training and practice, the phrase remained elusive until my colleagues, deeply influenced by impactful books like “The Inside-Out Revolution” and “Innate Health,” piqued my curiosity. This curiosity led me to explore this uncharted territory, driven by the vibrant energy emanating from our clinical team.

Initially, I engaged with some of the books that had resonated with my colleagues, but nothing quite struck a chord with me. It was during this exploration that I stumbled upon the fascinating story of Sydney Banks, a Scottish-born welder living on Salt Spring Island in the early 1970s. Following a profound enlightenment experience, Banks articulated three divine principles that form the foundation to all human experience and behavior.

I distinctly recall overhearing conversations among colleagues, catching snippets of Sydney Banks’s name. There was an inexplicable magnetic pull, a fascination with Syd’s name that I couldn’t quite articulate. My singular focus became unraveling the mystery of this man and understanding the wisdom he had to share

Initially skeptical, I found myself engrossed in Sydney Banks’ video recordings each evening after work. Internal chatter often accompanied my viewing, questioning the uniqueness of his insights. Over time, my approach to listening evolved. I realised I had been conditioned to comprehend through comparison and judgment, assessing new information against my existing beliefs.

Throughout our lives, we are taught to focus, concentrate, and seek understanding. As you read these words, perhaps you’re doing just that—trying to make sense of the narrative. Stop! As you continue, recognise that understanding is unnecessary; there’s nothing to do but everything to hear.

The prevailing notion of recovery from mental health problems often implies a laborious journey. Contrary to this belief, Sydney Banks saw that mental health problems or mental suffering is simply a ‘thinking’ in the present moment. He stated, “you are one thought away from happiness, one thought away from sadness. The secret lies in thought.”

Sydney Banks urged us to “ignore the words” and instead listen beyond them. Initially concentrating on comprehension, I eventually adopted a different approach—listening to the recordings and following the nice feeling that I was having, and the words dropped away into background noise. This shift led to a unique awareness, akin to the feeling of nervous excitement before a roller coaster ride. It was my discovery of a state of meditation, a quiet mind, inherent in every human being. This natural state requires no practice or effort; it emerges as we tune out the external noise, offering a deeper understanding beyond words and thinking. Here, consciousness expands, revealing answers surpassing conventional knowledge. The question that remains is—are you ready to really listen?

The Illusion of Time

It’s crucial to recognise that our existence unfolds within the framework of our self-created ideas and perceptions of reality. ‘Time,’ in essence, is merely a construct—an idea suggesting a continuous sequence of events forming a past, present, and future. While this mental construction of time serves practical purposes in navigating life, such as scheduling and organising, the fundamental truth remains: you can only ever experience Now.

Now is all-encompassing—it never commenced, and it will never conclude; it simply is. The idea of days, weeks, and hours is a shared concept that aids us in our journey through life. However, it’s essential to realise that every moment you encounter is, in fact, Now. Tomorrow, next week, or last year are nothing more than thoughts created in the present moment. You can’t physically grasp tomorrow in your hand or revisit yesterday’s breakfast meeting. All you can ever truly be aware of are your own thoughts of time, and those thoughts exist in the eternal Now.

Living in the present moment is the epitome of blissful existence. It signifies seeing with absolute clarity, Now. To be present is to refrain from the initiation of thoughts and to perceive ‘what is.’ The absence of thought reveals that what isn’t present is a creation of the mind—merely a product of our thoughts.

The Real ‘You’

A friend once expressed her admiration for my ability to embrace my true self and live freely. Curious, she asked, “How do you manage to be so authentically you?” I couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony—like a fish in the ocean asking where to find water because it feels thirsty.

The reality is, all the insecurities and fears hindering your true self-expression are mere illusions. These illusions persist through time, crafted by your thoughts. As long as these thoughts remain fixed in your mind, the illusion feels like an unshakable reality.

In truth, you are inherently free-spirited; freedom is your essence. You and I are intricately connected. The only barrier to recognising this truth is the idea you’ve held onto—that you are not free. This aligns with the timeless wisdom of Jesus Christ, who proclaimed, “The truth shall set you free.”

Here’s the secret: the ‘small’ version of you, shaped by deeply ingrained thoughts, cannot break free because this illusory self lacks awareness of your true essence. It’s akin to waking up in a dark room, mistaking a rope for a snake, and feeling scared. The fear dissipates only when you gain the knowledge that it’s a rope. Similarly, the universal spirit, the intelligence behind all things, holds the knowledge of your true self.

This wisdom is yours to realise whenever you’re ready. Simply cultivate a quiet mind, listen to the truth beyond words, and return to your origin. I personally experienced this profound shift while listening to Sydney Banks. His words resonated with certainty, echoing what I already knew deep within my soul. My conscious state elevated, and for two weeks, I walked in a different world. My personal mind vanished, and my perception transcended the physical realm. In this deeper experience of my true self, beyond the confines of my internal thought system, the fears and insecurities I once clung to dissipated. The same is possible for you, Now!