Bhagavana Mahavira and his Relevance in Modern Times

Author(s): Narendra Bhanavat, Prem Suman Jain, V P Bhatt
Publisher: Akhil Bharat Varshiya Sadhumargi Jain Sangh

Page 169

LORD MAHAVIRA AND NATIONAL CHARACTER
Narendra Bhanawat
An individual is a foundation-stone of a nation. A nation is built up by a well-organised and empowered group of individuals. The concept of national character is determined by the customs and ideals as well as traditions. Thus the very base of a national character is the character of an individual. The character of a nation would be as strong and fair as an individual's character would be.
The important condition for building a character, either of individual's character or of national character, is the recognition of the existence of freedom, strong desire for living and the power of powerful determination to march on without any break on the strength of self endeavour. 2500 years ago, Lord Mahāvīra lit this idea of self-freedom of an individual. He proclaimed-O Atman, you are the architect of your own fortune. The good deeds are your friends and the bad deeds are your enemies. You can control your Vikāra and eventually can become Paramātmā. Thus Mahāviira instructing the self freedom told us that one is absolutely free to become like Ishwar himself and he is not dependent on any other thing. He can attain that though he belongs to any group or religion, provided his thoughts and actions are right.
The instructions given by Lord Mahāvīra about the self