Sri Ramakrishna went beyond conventional morality and stressed purity, which is the real basis and aim of all moral codes and conduct. The difference between conventional morality and purity is to be noted here. Morality is the basis of religion; whereas purity is the basis of spirituality. Morality is how we appear to other people; purity is how we appear to God. Morality is conformity to codes of conduct and behaviour, whereas purity is freedom from the hold of past samskaras [psychological imprints] of desires and instinctual drives.
Swami Bhajanananda, The Light of the Modern World (Advaita Ashrama, 2012), 223-224.
