Spiritual progress is no other than progress in regard to one’s state of mind. As and when a person goes on becoming more and more unselfish, he or she is progressing spiritually. It is selfishness that makes a person worldly-minded. Unselfishness brings a person closer to God because God is unselfishness itself. Also when a person is becoming more and more mentally calm and serene, less and less violent, more and more sympathetic to other people’s suffering, etc., he or she has been growing spiritually.
On another occasion, when I (Swami Nikhilananda) had just returned from Comilla [in Bangladesh] after a long absence, I saluted Mahapurush Maharaj and told him in the course of conversation that I was not making any spiritual progress. “None whatsoever?” he asked. I said that I did not feel any. “Listen, my child, perhaps you mean to say that you have not made as much spiritual progress as you would desire. Let me tell you something. You must be happy to see me after a long time. Are you not?” “Certainly, Maharaj,” I replied. He said: “I am also very happy to see you. What is the cause of this mutual attraction? Neither you nor I have any blood relationship. You are happy to see me because you love God. I too am happy because I love God. This love of God binds us both together. On account of this love of God we feel happy when we see each other. When you were away I missed you. You too must have missed me. This love of God is the sure sign of spiritual progress.” (Source: God Lived with Them)