When you associate with somebody who is more advanced, then you can get the opportunity to exchange according to the teachings of Rupa Gosvami—to reveal your mind in confidence and to inquire confidentially. If you do not have that kind of spiritual relationship in life, it is very difficult to make progress. Often that relationship does not exist because we are not willing to be humble. We are not willing to look for superior qualities that exist in others. We are not willing to accept that somebody may actually have something that they can offer us in our spiritual life. For a beginner in Krishna consciousness, that is very dangerous, as it means that he is beginning spiritual life from a very dangerous platform. If pride exists within the heart, it is very difficult to advance spiritually. The Lord is very much attracted to humility in His devotees.Wherever there is humility, there are genuine exchanges between one devotee and another.
Lectures From a Disciple, Counselor System, Pg 399, 2nd Paragraph