I have been pondering on the question: Is compassion inborn or can it be acquired through learning and practicing in a lifetime? Though I easily recognize compassion when I see it in another person, it is difficult for me to evaluate how compassionate I am as a person or if the degree of my compassion varies depending on the context. When I observe the people around me, I often notice that the ones who are compassionate tend to be relatively nonjudgmental and altruistic. Usually they are non-selective on whom to act with compassion. For example, a friend of mine …