Acharya Prashant addresses a question from a listener who is accused of fundamentalism for following his teachings on the Upanishads. The speaker begins by correcting the translation of the term 'fundamentalism'. He states that the Hindi translation of 'fundamentalism' is not 'kattarvaad' (bigotry). 'Fundamentals' means the base or the root. Therefore, 'fundamentalism' can be translated as 'moolvaad' (ideology of the root) or 'adhaarvaad' (ideology of the foundation). If the root and foundation contain truth, it can be called 'satyavaad' (ideology of truth), although truth itself is not an 'ism'. He explains that 'fundamentalism' means to follow the core principles, just as in differential calculus, one is asked to solve problems using 'first principles'. The speaker distinguishes this from bigotry ('kattarta'), for which the English word is 'bigotry'. He explains that bigotry is being rigid in one's actions while being far from the fundamentals. A bigot is someone who knows nothing of the core principles but is rigid in their conduct, for example, insisting on praying at a specific time or in a specific direction without understanding why. This has no connection to the fundamentals or truth. He criticizes the current public discourse, which he says has been distorted by people who are against the truth, for equating fundamentalism with bigotry or terrorism. He argues that calling a foolish terrorist a 'fundamentalist' is wrong because such a person has no knowledge of the fundamentals. Acharya Prashant asserts that being a 'fundamentalist' in the true sense is a matter of great honor and a very necessary thing. He wishes for everyone to become a fundamentalist, meaning to become authentic, pure, and unadulterated. He says that a true fundamentalist is one who follows the core truths, such as 'Aham Brahmasmi' (I am Brahman). He mentions Mahatma Buddha and Acharya Shankar as examples of true fundamentalists. He tells the questioner to consider it a compliment when accused of being a fundamentalist for following the Upanishads, as it means they are being praised. The real scriptures, he concludes, only discuss fundamentalsтАФthe core truths of existence. The fundamental matter is that 'I am an unsatisfied consciousness, and only one thing, which is called Truth, can pacify me.'
