or his wealth, erudition, youth, pleasing appearance, strength or following. Therefore one who takes shelter of the holy name must rescind the propensity to criticize sadhus.

"Pure devotion based on chanting is dependent on the mercy of the pure devotee and his unalloyed devotion. Without these two everything will become perverted and spoiled. Bhakti recedes at the first indication of sadhu-ninda, which then becomes namaparadha. Let the aspirant devotee disapprove of sadhu-ninda and serve and associate with the sadhus.

Two types of bad association

"The proper Vaisnava behavior is to avoid asat-sanga or bad company that influences a person to disrespect a sadhu. Bad association is of two kinds; the first is association with women, which means either to have illicit connection with a woman other than one's wife, or to be excessively fond of one's own wife. The scriptures approve only a proper regulated relationship with one's wife. Keeping company with a licentious or henpecked man also falls within this first category of asat-sanga or bad association.

There's nothing wrong with differences in external appearance, labels, and external function. In fact, such differences are necessary and valuable. The problem arises when we falsely identify with our bodies and all the bodily labels and functions.
Science of Identity Foundation | Chris Butler Speaks

Non-devotees are of three kinds

"The second type of bad association is to mix with non-devotees. There are three kinds of non-devotees: the mayavadi, the dharmadhvaji (pretender), and the nirisvara (atheist). Mayavadis do not accept that the Supreme Lord's form is eternal. They say the Deity form of the Lord is illusory or maya, and that the jiva is also a product of maya. A dharmadhvaji is a person who has no devotion or attachment in the heart but makes a show of it externally. He wears the clothes of a devotee to accomplish materialistic ends. A nirisvara is a non-believer, an atheist. A serious aspirant or sadhaka must shun such bad association. If anyone argues that criticizing such non-devotees is sadhu-ninda, his company must also be meticulously avoided. One has to keep away from bad association and take complete shelter of the holy name. Only then is love of Godhead ensured.