Answer this question to the best of your ability:
Can meditation influence an individual's capacity for empathy? If so, how does it work?
Yes, regular meditation practice can indeed enhance an individual's capacity for empathy. Meditation helps cultivate self-awareness and introspection, allowing individuals to better understand their own emotions as well as those of others. This increased awareness can lead to improved empathy and better management of one's own emotional responses, which in turn can facilitate greater understanding and connection with others.

Moreover, meditation encourages individuals to focus on the present moment, which can prevent the mind from being consumed by worries about future events or past regrets. This increased awareness and mindfulness can also contribute to overall enhanced empathy.