One day, some of the men mandali felt discouraged and began reflecting on their years with the Master. They concluded that they had gained nothing spiritual by being with him. Some time later during the course of a conversation with the same men, Meher Baba stopped and gave this unexpected discourse:
You eat food to maintain your body and with the body you do different acts. The food in the stomach turns into fluid from which blood is made. You know this, but you have no idea or experience as to how it happens.
Similarly, those connected with me have gained spiritual advancement, but don’t see or have any idea about it. You, who are with me here, are completely unaware of the advancement, but it is definitely there. The closer a person is to a Perfect Master, the better it is for him; whether he is a member of the Master’s circle or not.
–www.lordmeher.org, p719
(Photo courtesy: Lord Meher)