Abstract
Empathy is now a common concept in the field of intercultural communication. In this article, the author defines empathy as "the cognitive and emotional abilities to share someone else's experiences and feelings from his/her perspective. This is done within the framework of his/her cultural context to develop friendly relations on an equal status." Furthermore, people need a certain level of sensitivity to enable themselves to identify with others when empathizing with them. In that sense, the Buddhist concept of muga provides us with a great deal of insight: Self beyond dualism underlies muga, and at the same time it is a process of self-searching. The author believes that the positive relationship in intercultural communication is developed alongside empathy through this Oriental way of self-identification.
