The pyramid as a symbol of human development

Figure 1: The pyramid of personal development

The pyramid represents the sense of harmony and unity within ourselves and with the environment to which we aspire. The individual building blocks of the pyramid are lessons we have already successfully completed, i.e. the ability we have already learned of how to live the basic rights of existence. As soon as the top of the pyramid has been built to the necessary height and the whole structure has been cleanly rendered the highest goal can be said to have been reached: The respective person is then in perpetual harmony with himself and his environment.

With this pyramid model we can easily illustrate many of the features and requirements of human development:

• The pyramid is only complete when all the building blocks are in place.

For the achievement of lasting harmony a person must successfully complete all the lessons of human development. No single lesson can be avoided, otherwise at the end certain abilities for living the basic rights of existence would be missing.

• When building a pyramid a certain sensible sequence of events must be maintained. The large stones can only be placed at the bottom. The foundation must be built before the top.

Also in the case of human beings a certain sequence of events must be maintained. If someone overtaxes himself with tasks (for example trying to build the top before the foundation) or if he doesn’t try hard enough (for example only ever working on the foundation of the pyramid) he will not develop further.

• If defects are found in the part of the pyramid, which has already been built (for example if stones fall out), these defects will sooner or later have to be repaired. According to the type and extent of the defects it may also be necessary to first remove stones above or beside the defective ones in order to repair them. In extreme cases it may even be necessary to remove all the stones above the defective ones. To prevent further damage the defect will possibly have to be repaired before building upwards can continue again.

If the basic rights of existence in a given situation are not followed, the respective lesson of human development is again set to «pending» (the stone falls out of the pyramid). The person will have the opportunity at some stage in the future of learning again the respective characteristic or capability (repairing the pyramid). «Baggage from the past» i.e. the need to repeat waiting lessons prevent or impede further development.

• A pyramid, which is built symmetrically in layers (and not one-sided), is extremely stable even during its building. No earthquake can destroy it. Repairs to parts already built are seldom required and the builder can work efficiently on the construction of the pyramid.

If we attempt to pursue our personal development in what is for us a sensible sequence, then the chances of violating the basic rights of existence in already tested situations is minimal. We can devote ourselves to further development and not have to keep on repeating already-completed lessons.

• The higher the pyramid is built the greater the effort required to build it higher. The stones have to be carried further and further upwards. However the stones also become smaller all the time.
• Through the building of the upper layers the lower layers are subjected to greater and greater loads. Weak points are therefore automatically shown up and can be repaired. Through the pressure of the upper layers the lower layers also become solidified and therefore become stronger and can be loaded with more and more weight.
• A pyramid does not build itself. Whoever wants to build a pyramid must really want to do it and of course he must also do it. Just to speak about it or to draw plans is not sufficient!

If a person wants to develop further he must want this for himself and then actually carry it out for himself. It does not happen automatically.

• The building of a pyramid requires a lot of time and patience. Often the building can take several generations depending on the size of the structure.

Human development also requires time and can be spread over many incarnations.

We will return to many of the statements made here in more detail at later points.

Figure 2: Partly built pyramid with a defect