Master Hsing Yun (星雲法師), founder of Buddhist organization Fo Guang Shan, is in stable condition after suffering a stroke, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital said yesterday.
The master was rushed to the hospital by his followers on Monday night after he felt numbness on his left side, including his hand and foot.
The hospital immediately formed a team to treat him and confirmed that he was suffering from blood-vessel sclerosis in his brain and an ischemic stroke.
The hospital said that Master Hsing Yun, 84, has a history of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high blood lipids and heart disease.
He checked into the hospital after a stroke in October and had recovered from that, but he had been fatigued in recent days from activities related to the opening of a Buddha Memorial Center in Greater Kaohsiung, Fo Guang Shan Monastery said.
The hospital said although he was in stable condition, he would remain there for observation for the time being.
Both President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) sent Master Hsing Yun their regards yesterday, expressing their concern.
In related news, Tsai and first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青) yesterday visited the Buddha Memorial Center.
The five-story memorial hall was unveiled on Sunday after nine years of construction. The 4,000 ping (13,223m2) complex has eight stupas, 48 underground palaces and the nation’s tallest Buddha statue at 108m high.
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