But what is morality? It is adherence to truth, love, goodness, duty, peace, and nonviolence ---to God’s will, as we understand it. These are the human values that are the core teachings of the world’s religions. Maintaining high moral standards demonstrates our recognition of divinity in others and in ourselves. It shows our respect and consideration for others in thought and deed. Morality is more than simply obeying certain laws or social norms. It is the observance of these high qualities which makes us truly human and potentially self-realized.

Morality is the corollary to dharma (spiritual duty). Morality does not merely mean the observance of certain rules in the workaday world. Morality means adherence to the straight and sacred path of right conduct. Morality is the blossoming of good conduct.

Sanathana Sarathi

Morality, like dharma, is suited to our particular role in society. It is based on our age, sex, and function. There are no absolute laws of morality. The norms of morality vary from age to age and from culture to culture. Ernest Hemingway observed in Death in the Afternoon: "…What is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after…."

There are no universal and absolute norms of morality. Ethical relativity is an inescapable social phenomenon. Morality depends on the time, the place, and the spirit of the age.

Summer Showers 1979