Life is like a pyramid. As much fun as a box of chocolates is, a pyramid tends to hold a bit more meaning. In many ways existence is pyramidal. As things increase in complexity, they decrease in number. Humans, the most complex organism know to man, are 6.5 billion strong. The molecules of which we are comprised are a multiple of that. The atoms which comprise the molecules also number a multiple of the molecules, and so on. The less complex an organism, the more of them there are. The more complex the organism the less of them there are. Things like governments, Harvard, the Internet, the Universe, etc. have few peers. Things like atoms and electrons are so innumerable they defy counting.

So, like a pyramid, as things increase in complexity (pyramid height) they decrease in number (pyramid blocks). The pyramid is a theme, however, which is not only relegated to describing external matters - those outside of us - but also those within. Our lives are pyramids, and we can live large and fulfilling lives, or small, addicted, disempowered and miserable lives. What allows a pyramid to reach great height, is not the number of men building it, the technology or the resources. What makes a pyramid great is the vision of its architect.

The same processes that are involved in building a 3 ft. pyramid are those employed to build a 3,000 ft. pyramid. Simply, we start with a corner and build out and up, increasing the base, height and blocks in between, so as to create a staircase for moving blocks up, one at a time. The area of the base determines the height of the pyramid. So how does this relate to life?

The foundational layers of the pyramid represent our values, philosophies, spirituality, character and ethics. The middle layers represent our speech and actions. The top layers represent the results - the tangible glorious product of the bottom layers. Most folks only see the results, such as our bodies, jobs, houses, clothes, cars, etc.

The integrity of the pyramid is paramount. The layers must agree with each other. If the first layer was done shoddily or with timber, as opposed to stone the second layer will suffer and/or collapse. In this situation, the shelf-life of the fruits, the top layer, is likely to be short. As with the pyramid, integrity within allows for the production of a stable, productive and glorious result.

What is important is not solely that we have integrity and set a grand vision for our lives, but that we set principles by which we shall evolve that vision and expand it. Seeing a specified height or base width at a certain stage in our evolution is important, however it is not nearly as important as the process by which we reconcile base and height. That is, are we taking measures to grow in a sustainable way, to produce action and speech as a result of character, ethics, values, philosophies and spirituality? Or are we running ruck-shod over method, in order to achieve short lived gains? Thus, if we need to err, we ought to err on the side of too large a base. One can never have enough values. One can never have a world-view or philosophy which is wholly exhaustive. It is important to make measured advances in the bottom layer to produce the integration required for the middle and create the womb for the top layer to holistically emerge.

Our slope ought to be 1:1. We must build up and out concurrently, starting first with the internal assets which comprise the first layer, and only then set our sights on the speech and action to express them.

When people err and hamstring our development, we commit two common missteps:

1. We assign a finality to the base construction, such that the creative impulse within us expires as we reach the top.

2. We neglect to embrace their order as absolute, failing to integrate the three layers.

These critical errors are based upon the two vital forces within man: ascension and integration, up and out. Man must set a vision for an ever expanding base, or realm of influence, values, philosophy, spirituality, impact, character, expression, ethics, etc. Then as he builds a life comprised of speech and action, he does so through the lens of his inner dimension.

Furthermore, two important aspects of a properly constructed base are:

1. Infinity principle. The infinity principle requires us to build congruence amongst our values, philosophy, spirituality, impact, character, ethics, etc. such that it resonates with an infinitely large time frame. That is, our foundation must expand infinitely such that the actions which arise from it are not bound by time, but rather will serve the universe/humanity regardless of whether our time frame is 5 seconds or 5 trillion years.

2. Contradictory principle. As Aurobindo so astutely observed, nothing can be true unless its opposite is also true in its own time and place. There exists no absolute truth. Even the existence of man or God can be negated given a certain perspective or set of parameters. Thus, our foundations must be flexible enough so as to be able to adapt, understand and assimilate all assertions, negating none. Absolutism in any regard must be eliminated - even the assertion that absolutism be eliminated must not be viewed as absolute. Spin, spin! O circle of logic!

Every arena of human endeavor can be viewed through this pyramid framework. Major conflicts arise only when one faction of humanity has narrowly defined the base and what is possible and proper, in opposition to another group's definition. Where they both err is that the base and height are ever expanding and that it is the process which makes man great, not the near-term results.

Great Pharaohs often undertook projects that would take lifetimes to build. Sure there was some ego involved, but there was also a sense that immortality is ours should we choose to embrace it, that the process of life, of which each of us is merely a droplet in the ocean, demands our most sincere attention. The greatest visions, the most profound foundations are generative, in that they encompass a process which exceeds the shelf life of a single organism. We are ourselves comprised of billions of such selfless organisms, which give their life to see to it that ours continues.

When these cells change their minds such as in the instances of cancer and disease, it is an expression the lack of integrity and sustainability of the organism. While environmental factors contribute, they are nearly always the results of our own choices. It is our internal climate, the result of the integration of our conscious and unconscious choices, that is responsible for the evolution or degradation of Man. It is our lack of synthesis between our foundation and middle layer that produces debilitating disease. We are oceans of intention, and as these oceans engage with the physical world, they can do so creatively or destructively. It is our mission to integrate, such that beautiful artifacts are produced.

If Man desires not to be common, to achieve his/her full potential, then Man ought to build a great pyramid, a remarkable life. It is the divine expression and ultimate destiny of Man to be called forth to do so. Failing to do so leaves many unplayed cards on the table. By embracing the pyramid, life becomes more complex, glorious and expressive of all that is. Shying away from such ascension and integration is to forfeit that which makes Man human, to embrace lower orders of complexity and deny life.

If integration and ascension aren't yet on our table here is the formula to get back in sync with the creative and integrative principles of life:

1. Clearly articulate your life vision, values, your beliefs and philosophies. Write them down and refine them so that they are open-ended. Set forth 1-3 milestones, but do so only with regard to the future expansion of the base.

2. Examine every institution, behavior, activity and relationship and determine to what extent these are expressive of step one.

3. Eliminate institutions, behaviors, activities and relationships which are incorrigible, incapable of experiencing full alignment with the base.

4. Devise a plan to align each rogue element of life. Start with the low hanging fruit and only work on one at a time.

5. Once a satisfactory level of integration is present, sculpt the game-plan for delivering on the vision for the pyramid.

6. Enjoy the rest of your life and fruits of your labor, keeping an eye on the measured and ever expanding base and height of your constitution.

Brandon Peele is Founder of Namaste Economics, a set of economic principles defining the path of conscious business.

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