In order to distinguish East from West, it is natural first to give the points in which they differ. The people of the East, in all ages, have had only one object in view, and that was to get in touch with the deeper side of life. Some came sooner to that point, some later; some had to struggle along, and for some it was very easy. The result naturally was that for both the wise and the foolish there was less contact with the outer world. By this I do not mean to say that there are no people in the East who are pursuing material gain and material things, and that there are no people who love wealth and all that belongs to the earth. There are earth-worshippers in all lands, and hell-worshippers too. But when for instance one is among the most learned people of the East, one finds that although they have great knowledge of science and art, yet at the same time it all serves the purpose of gaining knowledge of the deeper side of life; in any work they are doing their whole motive is to understand this deeper aspect.

Even ancient Eastern politicians and warriors thought in the same way. We have as an illustration the history of the Prophet Mohammed, who was not only a mystic but a general of his army and a statesman, and who was the first in the history of the Orientals to set up a constitutional government, in Mecca. His people formed the first parliament in Medina, and every man and every woman in the city had the right to vote in that parliament; and this happened fifteen hundred years ago!

I have often come across a domestic servant, who had never had any education, who did not even know how to write his name, but who, as soon as one began to touch his sentiment and his heart, showed that he knew as much about the worthlessness of material life as a great philosopher. A man like this may perhaps talk to one on philosophy for an hour, from his deepest sentiment and with a full understanding of life.

All this does not mean that the East did not make any progress in material things, for if one takes for instance the science of medicine, the books of Avicenna have been the foundation of medical study for the whole world. Besides the music of the Vedas was not only music but a psychological expression of sound and rhythm; and therefore it was also a mystery, a science so perfectly formed that it was not only useful for worldly things, but for meditative purposes. In fact music became the most essential part of religious practice.

Today people come and tell the world about the repetition of some word which will cure people from illness. Both the scientific and the unscientific worlds believe this to be a new thing, but if one goes to the East any man in the poorest circumstances will say, "We have always known this, we do it every day; we know what the power of the word means!" They will not be able to give a definition; one must ask that of a learned man; but it is a science which has always existed in the East.