This will be a special Monday’s Mindful Quote day. Today is the launch of the EBook A Mindful Dialogue: A Path to Working with Stress, Pain and Difficult Emotions ($9.99). Usually I don’t blatantly promote a book or CD of mine, but this is something that is important to know about. This book was inspired by the devastation in Haiti and 100% of the proceeds will go to HOPE FOR HAITI NOW which has no backend costs and diversifies the funds to these credible organizations: The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, and Yele Haiti Foundation.

This EBook is a 170 page compilation of interviews and writings I have done with leaders such as Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Daniel Siegel, Thich Nhat Hanh, Hafiz, Rumi and others. I believe this will not only be a wonderful companion in your own life, but will hopefully go onto save the lives of others in Haiti.

And now, a quote from the Dalai Lama (drumroll…):

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. 
Without them, humanity cannot survive.

The bottom line, we often take these for granted. Love and compassion is a fundamental need, we understand this by looking at infants in their first weeks, months and years of life. For example, tests have been done where a parent would look at an infant with a blank face while the infant tried to get their attention. At first, the infant would smile and coo trying to get some interaction from the adult. As the adult maintained their straight face, the infant would begin to cry and flail about. After a little while longer the infant would try to soothe himself and then fall into a state where he wasn’t doing anything as if he was in a state of depression.

We crave to be loved and to feel compassion from the time we are born to the final moments of our lives. We can give this to ourselves and it’s equally important to give it to others. In a recent post I discussed the health benefits of altruism and lovingkindness.

Before us is an opportunity to practice a mindful response to a human tragedy. Through mindfulness, we can cultivate compassion, lovingkindness and altruism that is beneficial for our own mental health and as the Dalai Lama implies, is also necessary for humanity to survive.

If you feel compelled, you can do one of two things or both:

• Purchase the EBook either for yourself or for another. If you have been following my blog, you likely know that the interviews that have been conducted are filled with much wisdom and practical guidance. The writings I have done in there serve as a great companion to see how other leaders’ quotes apply to our daily lives.
• Spread the word: Here is an opportunity to spread the word about this EBook which can be a support to many people and also help fund necessary relief for Haiti. If you have access to people through email, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, or other social mediums, forward this onto them or just send them to http://drsgoldstein.com/EBook4Haiti.aspx.

The social, physical and psychological trauma will be occurring for the people of Haiti for quite some time. There’s a need for a mindful response.

I have much gratitude in my heart for your consideration of this and I hope you enjoy A Mindful Dialogue.

With love,

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.

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    Last reviewed: 26 Jan 2010