Embedding a view programmatically is not too difficult, but what about passing it a value for an exposed filter? This snippet gives a simple example of how to modify the View object in a more meaningful way before rendering it.

<?php
$name = 'my_view';
$display = 'block_1';
$view = views_get_view($name);
$view->set_display($display);
?>

If you'd like to pass in exposed filter values, define these properties before calling $view->preview():

<?php
// The $exposed_filters keys must correctly correspond with the actual keys of your view's exposed filters.
$exposed_filters = array(
  'keys' => 'sail',
  'term_node_tid_depth' => 'All',
);
// Pass in exposed filter values. array_merge() order prioritizes user input.
$view->exposed_input = array_merge($exposed_filters, (array)$view->exposed_input);
$view->exposed_raw_input = array_merge($exposed_filters, (array)$view->exposed_raw_input);
$view->exposed_data = array_merge($exposed_filters, (array)$view->exposed_data);
?>

Print the view!

<?php
$output = $view->preview();
if ($view->result) {
  print $output;
}
$view->destroy();
?>