Anjili: How would you interpret the words ethics and morality?

Swami Chinmayananda: The right and healthy values of life that you preserve in yourself comprise ethics, while morality manifests in your behaviour vis-à-vis the outer world. Immoral thoughts are not possible. There are either unethical thoughts, or ethical thoughts. There is no ethical action, but moral and immoral activity. The two words are used in this sense that one is for the discipline of one’s behaviour in the outer world and in one’s relationship: the other is subjective – ethical values and moral behaviour… So unless you have got healthy ethical values you cannot live a healthy moral life.

Anjili:Would you say that ethics is the theoretical aspect?

A: No, the subjective. Ethics is more subjective, something you have to cultivate in yourself. Then its expression in the world outside becomes morality. A man ethically cannot be morally good. A moral man springs from the ethical values he preserves in himself.

Meera: Are we naturally moral beings or is morality something that emerged because of the needs of the social situation?

A: It all depends on your definition of man. The human being or ‘man’ (the general term that refers to human beings) is really an animal, a two-legged animal. A newborn baby has no sense of morality. Then we slowly train him, which in society we call giving him culture, education, and so on. It is then that morality comes. Suppose you are living on a solitary island, morality would have no meaning. Morality and Self-discipline are necessary when you live in society.

Meera: Since man has always been a social animal, does it follow that morality has always existed?

A: Yes, but morality will depend upon the social complexion of the society. There was no income tax in the cave man’s life. But there was sharing with the other man what he had, helping him in need lest he may also need him. It’s mutual. I think morality slowly built up that way.

Meera: Do  you mean to say it’s only because, let’s say, you may fall sick and need help from another later so you do it for him when he needs it, a kind of social contract?

A: Naturally. But that is the lowest level of human evolution. From the highest standpoint all individuals are nothing but the Supreme Reality, Brahmn. So, you are only Me in that form. Me, meaning the Self, in that form. So, between you and Me, the relationship is like that between my hand and my leg.

Meera: Then at a higher standpoint morality comes naturally?

A: Yes, it comes naturally! It is not more morality thrust upon from outside. In the beginning it is a discipline thrust upon from outside, later on it becomes natural for you to live those higher values.

Meera: Does the place of morality in the general scheme of things come after birth?

A: Yes, it comes much afterwards, because in the early childhood period there is no morality. The child wants the other boy’s toys without sharing his own. Then the mother and others will tell him, “No, no baby, you give it to that boy also. Play together.” Very slowly, we try to make him understand.