Religion
In reply to the discussion: Where do you atheists get your morals? [View all]tama
(9,137 posts)on individual level is also good question, which often get's confused with level of cultural mores and norms.
Social conditioning is one source, but people do go against their social conditioning and their cultural mores and norms (whether religious or secular) because of deeper ethical causes, so that is not the only source. In Buddhist etc. teaching there are many deeper levels, that can be found and practiced through contemplative methods, various levels of awakening and awareness, and deeper you go, more effortless and automatic ethical behavior comes. Love and compassion comes from inside, some people call that "God-within", others don't use any theological vocabulary.
PS: I somehow came by this talk by a Monsignor about "rainbow bodies", thought you might be interested: http://noetic.org/library/audio-lectures/the-rainbow-body-phenomenon-with-father-francis-ti/