Someone who is as powerful as Srila Prabhupada, can be very liberal with the word “devotee”, because one of the symptoms of the devotee is his ability to make others devotees. That’s another important symptom of the devotee. In other words, because he is so devoted to the Lord, he is so much empowered or invested with the Lords energies, that he is very capable to make a very deep impression in the heart of someone who is not a devotee and give them an inspiration to become a devotee.
When one associates with a devotee, one naturally thinks “I would like to become a devotee.” That’s the power of association with a devotee.
December 23, 1997, Tallin