New York's Fateful Disaster-Warm Blankets Are Tokens of Great Love

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In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy slammed into theU.S.East Coast; New York Chapter CEO Chi-To Chang promptly organized Tzu Chi volunteers into emergency relief teams; their record-breaking efficiency received tremendous official and community praise. DA.AI Technology recently invited Brother Chi-To and his wife, Sister Hui-Fen, to share their experiences and suggest ways to provide disaster relief and supplies in a timely manner. Brother Chi-To explained that the “super storm” affected about one-third of the nation’s area, and 17 million residents. Eight million households lost power. In a pertinent comment, Master Cheng Yen has compassionately advised that people in rich countries should be self-disciplined and prudent to create blessings and avoid disasters. The overwhelming response of many Bodhisattvas after Hurricane Sandy generated love that affectedU.S.communities.

In a striking coincidence, Joseph Champagne (Mayor of South Toms River New Jersey) played Venerable Ananda in the Tzu Chi New York Chapter’s musical, “Sutra of Profound Gratitude toward Parents.” His spirited performance even earned him the honorary title “Mayor Ananda.”  The musical production’s costumes, from DA.AI’s Chinese Heritage Series, enhanced the show’s solemn beauty.

Just a few weeks later Hurricane Sandy hit the U.S. East Coast, devastating much of “Mayor Ananda’s” town. Luckily, emergency help from Tzu Chi wasn’t long in coming. In February 2013 Mayor Ananda traveled toTaiwanto personally thank Tzu Chi and take refuge in the Tzu Chi School of Buddhism.

Brother Chi-To told Tzu Chi’s staff that without water or electricity, and with temperatures near zero, getting blankets and warm food to affected residents was critical. DA.AI blankets provided quick physical warmth to victims, and deeply touched them. One old lady, for example, was living alone in an upper-story apartment and couldn’t walk down her stairs. Trapped in her home, she put on every heavy coat she owned; once but wrapped in a DA.AI blanket, she suddenly had all the warmth she needed. Sister Hui-Fen remembered that during the relief, standing in line near victims waiting for cash cards, she used the time to promote the DA.AI eco-friendly clothes she was wearing, and introducing the concept of using recycled PET bottles to “extend articles’ life and create blessings and wisdom.”  “Innumerable ways of striving for enlightenment, become clear before our eyes and we shall…” Every DA.AI Technology product, an easy path to the gate of an enlightened state, expresses the spirit of Tzu Chi’s love and purifying power.

"The first to lead, the last to leave” is Brother Chi-To’s guiding principle. Whatever their short or long term objectives, or the number of living Bodhisattvas, Tzu Chi international organizations should remain deeply rooted in their communities. DA.AI Technology is proud to back up our international “first responder” teams, while promoting environmental concepts and Tzu Chi’s humanitarian initiatives to deliver love through products and blankets to everyone in need. "To save the world, environmental protection is a must – protecting the mental environment, the social environment, and the global environment too.” DA.AI Technology’s mission is to promote environmental humanitarianism; therefore, it puts its heart into promoting humanitarianism, spreading gratitude, respect, and love around the world, and proactively coexisting with the Earth.