Q53. Why good association is very important?

You should only associate with those who are spiritually minded and not materialistic and spiritually ignorant people. Most of the people in the world are materialistic and spiritually ignorant. ‘By association with worldly people, one becomes devoid of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, spiritual intelligence, shyness, austerity, fame, forgiveness, control of the mind, control of the senses, fortune and all opportunities. One should not at any time associate with a coarse fool who is bereft of the knowledge of self-realization and who is no more than a toy animal in the hands of a woman.’ (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-Lila 22.8890).

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If you associate with thieves, then the chances are very high that you will become a thief

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If you associate with gamblers, then the chances are very high that you will become a gambler

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If you associate with those who are engaged in violence against other living beings (human or animal), then the chances are very high that you will become violent

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If you associate with the wicked, then the chances are very high that you will become wicked

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If you associate with those who take drugs/alcohol, then the chances are very high that you will become a druggist/drunkard

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If you associate with those who are flesh eaters, then the chances are very high that you will become a flesh eater

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If you associate with those who are spiritually ignorant, then you will become spiritually ignorant

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If you associate with those who cannot describe God (godless), then you will become godless

All the above statements can be proven by the fact that people are not born drunkards/druggist/thieves/violent, people pick up bad habits by associating with people who have bad habits. If there is one bad fruit in a basket full of fruits, then the other fruits will very quickly become bad.