That is what Vedanta teaches us. It is not a mere play of the intellect, or arm-chair philosophy, or a mere academic tournament. From the outset, it makes a heavy demand upon us. It is indispensable that we should change totally our entire manner of acting and thinking. In the India of today, the position is exactly the same as what it was in ancient Greece at one time.
Philosophy preserves a concept of values, which is essentially practical.
If there were no moral and religious foundation, it would not be possible for us to attain that exalted sense of reality. Meditation is, therefore, the only means at our disposal which will lead us to our goal. It is true that the mystics of the West have also practiced such spiritual exercises. But we have to note that in India a scientific method has been worked out in detail out of observation collected from time immemorial. The most diverse of cases have also been taken into account.