The Devotee
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in Krishna Consciousness, devoted to the loving service of the Lord, is also described: Such a devotee or person in Krishna Consciousness is always tolerant and merciful. He is a friend to all living entities. He has no enemies. He is peaceful, and he is decorated with all good qualities. These are the symptoms of the person in Krishna Consciousness.
It is also said in the  Bhagwatam  that if one gets the opportunity to serve a great soul—a Mahatma—then his path to liberation is open. Those who are, however, attached to persons in the materialistic conception of life are on the path of darkness. Those who are actually holy are transcendentalists, equipoised, very peaceful, without any anger, and friendly to all living entities. Therefore becoming Krishna conscious, or a devotee of the Lord, is caused simply by association with such holy men. And to develop love of Godhead, the association of holy devotees is also needed. For anyone who comes in contact with a holy man, as mentioned above, the path of advancement in spiritual life is now opening. And, by following that path, he is sure to develop Krishna Consciousness in full devotional service.
In the  Srimad Bhagwatam , Eleventh Canto, Second Chapter, Vasudeva, the father of Krishna, asks Narada Muni about the welfare of life. In reply, Narada Muni quotes a passage from the discussion of the nine sages with King Nimi: “O holy sages, I am just trying to ask what the paths of well-being for every living entity are. And, a moment of association with holy men is the most valuable thing in life. That moment will open the path of advancement in spiritual life.” This is also confirmed in the  Srimad Bhagwatam , Third Canto, Twenty-fifth Chapter.
Association with holy persons and the discussion of transcendental subject matters with them convinces one about the purposeful course. Very soon, hearing of Krishna becomes pleasing to the ear, and satisfactory to one’s heart. After reception of such messages from holy persons or pure devotees, if one tries to apply them in his own life, then naturally the path of Krishna Consciousness becomes developed in faith, attachment, and devotional service—one after another.
The Lord then informed Sanatan Goswami about the behavior of a devotee. The sum and substance of such behavior enunciated by the Lord is that one should always be aloof from unholy association. That is the sum and substance of the behavior of a devotee. And what is unholy association? It is association with one who is too attached to women, and one who is not a devotee of Lord Krishna. These are unholy persons. The purport is that, as one is advised to associate with holy devotees of the Lord, so one has to be careful to avoid