Regarding Vaisnavas

Questions: Regarding Vaisnavas

I have few questions for which I need clarifications from you. Kindly answer and save me from ignorance.

1) Why do devotees have reservations when they relate with other fellow devotees?

2) What should we do when we hear one devotee blaspheming another devotee, if he/she is a senior devotee?

3) It is told that we should not judge a Vaisnava by his external appearance. But in reality, a Vaisnava is known as such to the world by his activities and appearance. So how should we understand this?

4) What should we do, if the activities of a Vaisnava are such that by his activities our movement's good reputation is spoiled among the public?

5) Is it that if one becomes Krishna conscious he is above the three modes of material nature (even the neophytes)?

Answer:  True Vaisnava is Always Saintly

1) If we have reservations about associating with devotees who are in good standing, we must consider whether we are actually devotees or not because a bona fide devotee is always eager to associate with and serve the bona fide devotees of the Lord.

2) One who is actually a devotee will not blaspheme other devotees.  We should always avoid hearing such things.  If possible we should defeat the blasphemer.  If not possible we should immediately leave the place.

3) One should not judge a devotee, a Vaisnava, by his birth, i.e. what kind of body he has. That's a fact. But the caliber of a Vaisnava can easily be understood by seeing how nicely he is absorbed in lovingly serving Lord Krishna and the Vaisnavas.

4) A Vaisnava's activities will not spoil the reputation of our movement because by nature a Vaisnava always behaves in an exemplary, saintly manner. Someone who purposefully commits sinful acts cannot be counted as one of the Vaisnavas.

5) "Neophyte devotee" means that he is starting to come out of the influence of the three modes of material nature. "Pure devotee" means that he is situated fully on the transcendental platform completely beyond the influence of the three modes of material nature.