SRI CHAITANYA 
BHAGAVATA
Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur
The Vaishnava devotees of the Lord are eternally pure and realized souls. Sometimes there are differences of opinion amongst them which might appear like an argument, but in fact, it is an amazing relationship between devotees. Foolish rascals who do not understand this exchange, praise one Vaishnava and denounce the other. Such a mentality will lead to destruction of faith and knowledge. In the scriptures it says that when a foolish wretch worships the lotus feet of a brahmana and then strikes him on the head, he will be sure to go to hell.
Similarly, when someone worships the Deity of Lord Visnu, but disrespects or disregards Lord Visnu residing in everyone’s heart, he also goes to hell. What to speak of committing offense and violence to a Vaishnava devotee! If someone offends or tortures even an ordinary living entity yet worships Lord Visnu, the Lord of every living entity, then all his worship is worthless, and he suffers great pain. It is verified that to worship Lord Visnu on one hand, and be ignorant about Lord Visnu being the Supersoul in everyone’s heart on the other, is like touching a brahmana’s feet for blessings with one hand, and beating him on the head with the other. Such foolish persons do not know what is most beneficial for themselves. To criticize a Vaishnava devotee is a thousand times more sinful than offending an ordinary living entity. The person who faithfully worships the Deities, but has no love and respect for the devotees, also does not possess any compassion for the ignorant and fallen conditioned souls. He accepts one incarnation of the Supreme Lord and worships Him, while he rejects another. He treats Lord Krishna differently from Lord RamaChandra, seeing a difference between Them. He does not show any respect or devotion for Lord Balarama or Lord Siva. Such persons are described in the scriptures as the weakest devotees.
In the Srimad-Bhagavatm it is stated that a person who has surrendered to a spiritual master and received initiation, who has left the association of nondevotees, and who worships the Deity of the Supreme Lord according to the Pancharatra injunctions, but who does not worship the devotees due to lack of proper understanding of the different categories of devotees, is known as a neophyte, or kanistha devotee, not a pure devotee.
Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (madhya 5)
