Now, I'll get a bit more serious and thorough..... As I see it, human culture has remained virtually unchanged for at least 3000 years (probably much longer, but we retain understandable literature only about this far back). The notion of progress held by most individuals has little real meaning.
Please think carefully about this! Three thousand years ago there were people like Eagle Scouts, like medieval acolytes, like Hitler youth. What has always motivated these youth to join up was that they aspired to whatever image of higher principles was presented to them by the leaders of their culture.
Three thousand years ago most people were provincial. They felt team spirit. They did not just fall into the MOMENT with whatever other human or being they encountered, they first prejudged that other based on categories behavioristically imposed on them, and which they mindlessly accepted.
Three thousand years ago, some were imprisoned or killed for personal beliefs or practices. Perhaps they worshipped the wrong gods, or tried to hide their wealth from people and institutions which laid claim to it.
Three thousand years ago, people joked, created sciences, worked as day laborers, sought political office, worried about death and illness, created what they felt was beautiful, and loved or resented their children.
Three thousand years ago, some felt the pull of becoming free, or enlightened, or self-realized. They dwelt on this with whatever archetypal images were available to them at the time.
This lack of progress I address is related to the Vedic concept of the Kali Yuga, the long, dark
age of mindlessness we now inhabit, an age where understanding reality is still possible, but very difficult.