The most ancient precious item out of creation, beyond even gold, was a diamond. A princess resplendent in her riches of gemstones and gold, would have a centerpiece that held a diamond to behold. All would gaze in awe, as this diamond of a person glided by, diamonds in her eyes, and splendor all around. And then there those human diamonds, in the east in China was Confucous, who taught of good behavior and obedience to the state, and he did not believe in an after life.

Then came Guatama Buddha (560-480 B.C.E.). Buddha was born as a prince, in a palace of diamonds. But at age 29 Prince Guatama left that behind to find in a simpler way to live, and to find peace somehow within. At that time the ancient religion of Hindhu beliefs held many fables and stories, in that the world was balanced on the back of a giant turtle, or gods with many arms. This also had a caste system that is hard for India to shake, and it had become a central part of the religion. At the top were the usually lightest skinned rulers and those of the court, who were closest to God.

Many religions still follow this 5,000 year old Brahmin superiority over other faiths. Buddha was actually in the second highest caste system, those of the warriors, who had to be that high, like modern civil servants but more as protection on their way to Nirvana first. Down it went until the darkest skin people were the real life and spiritual untouchables, and were perhaps going to have to undergo many transformations. And until that, their children were doomed as they to be the latrine duty for life.

Buddha rejected all this. His quiet, diamond eyes found eight steps to bliss, painful discovery at a time. By the time of his gentle death at age eighty, a very old age for that time, he began with a simple meal with his family of friends, and they all began a final meditation as one in this life. At the end of the meditation, which my caste allows twenty minutes as perfection, gentle Buddha had followed his meditation into Nirvana so blissfully. A diamond of a life.

It was his three disciples, surely, that were wise and from the east, there to look into the eyes of baby Jesus. The next son of God would surely have eyes that glittered like diamonds, then they knew. And this search is how Buddhists, up in Tibet, as the ruling holy man is frail and dying, begin to prepare for their search. In the time after the death of their dear leader, they follow the trails of Tibet, and look into the eyes of each new born child. At times, it has taken them years, and when that baby is found, all holy men must agree.

When they look into those eyes, the diamonds are there, then all praise their leader, and nurture him for life. And I think of the diamonds in the eyes of the mostly kindly at church, or in a shopping line, or in life. Researchers at the University of California have showed that there are eight general virtues of those who report most bliss and happiness in their lives, live the longest, report best health for age, gender, and income group. These sound an awful lot of church going people who do charity work that I have known.

Such diamonds, I thought and still do, were those diamonds sparkling all around America that GHW Bush, the senior, to talk about, little halos of light. And I knew it was his compassionate conservatism saying we may have some budget cuts to the needy, as we get people less dependent on government. So come on, you diamonds and sparkles of light, pitch in. If you want government off your backs, then more volunteering will be needed. And he was mocked in cartoons as a sparkling airhead, which he is not. That empty hat belong to his son, we mostly agree.

But diamonds for her, from you, make her sparkle, eyes, through and through. So as you do your good deeds, heed these words of diamonds with soft, not hard, souls. These eight virtues to Nirvana are here, science proves Buddha. Count your blessings. Do acts of kindness daily. Savor the joys of life. Learn to forgive. I find this most effective by going first. I approached an old enemy from decades ago. He twitched as if here we go again. I said that whatever happened I could not go to my grave feeling badly. I asked for his forgiveness. You might try it and see what happens. I had a blabbing man shaking my hand, saying no it was really his fault.

Now when we pass, windows go down, friendly hand wave, both sets of eyes sparkle like diamonds. Stay close to your friends and family. Take care of your body. Science says we begin to lose life when we are no longer able when we are unable to get off the toilet without help. Our muscle mass and we, begin our gradual route to heaven with diamonds in our eyes and souls, or to hell with our Tibet Han policeman eyes of coal.

Swing that baton, wield that gun, people who only knew to love are so easy to shove. Those diamond eyes of monks wince, it is true, when hit by a billy club. Would not you? After his roaming and meditations, Buddha came to conclude, it was most wise to ask little, give much, be holy. All his followers understood. And then, when his meditation was over, the others made a shrine, which I have seen, of where he had last been. If all we do is that in life, it will be a place they plant flowers forever. With a diamond below.