I was wondering similar things, so i looked some things up in the Bhagavad Gita As It Is. This is some of what i read on the subject.
-How can you recognize true devotees?
1:29
Softheartedness
1:44
Conscious of moral principles
12:15
Since a devotee is kind to everyone, he does not act in such a way as to put others into anxiety.at the same time,if others try to put a devotee into anxiety,he is not disturbed. It is by the grace of the lord that he is so practised that he is not disturbed by any outward disturbance.......
12:16
Naturally a devotee takes bath at least twice a day and rises early in the morning for devotonal service.thus he is clean both inwardly and outwardly.a devotee is always expert because he fully knows the sense of all activities of life,and he is convinced of the authoratative scriptures.A devotee never takes the part of a particular party;therefore he is carefree.He is never pained because he is free from all designations;he knows that his whole body is a designation,so if there are some bodily pains he is free.
12:18&19
A devotee is always free from all bad association.sometimes one is praised and sometimes one is defamed;that is the nature of human society. but a devotee is always transcendental to artificial fame and infamy,distress or happiness. He is very patient. He does not speak of anything but the topics about krishna......
- How can you recoginize imposters or non-devotees?
3:6
There are many pretenders who refuse to work in KC but make a show of meditation,while actually dwelling within the mind upon sense enjoyment. Such pretenders may also speak on dry philosophy in order to bluff sophisticated followers,but according to this verse these are the greatest cheaters.
16:1-3
The theory that there is no need of austerity in life,that one can go on speculating and everything will be nice, is neither recommended in the vedic literature nor in the BG. Such theories are manufactured by show bottle spiritualists who are trying to gather more followers.
16:5
..they do not follow the principles. They are always arrogant or proud in posessing some type of education or so much wealth. They desire to be worshipped by others,and demand respectability,although they do not command respect. Over trifles they become very angry and speak harshly not gently.They do not know what should be done or what should not be done.They do everything whimsically,according to their own desire,and they do not recognise any authority.
16:7
Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done.neither cleanliness nor proper behaviour nor truth is found in them. they say that this world is unreal,that there is no foundation and that there is no god in control.it is produced of sex desire,and has no cause other than lust.
- How does god 'punish' asuraas?
16:21 Attaining repeated birth amongst the species of demoniac life, such persons can never approach me.Gradually they sink down to the most abominable type of existence.
## but in the purport it states that there is hope for the demoniac as...
16:21
the supreme lord has no hatred for anyone.the placing of the asuras, the demons, in the lowest status of life is simply another feature of his mercy. Sometimes the demons are killed by the supreme lord,but this killing is also good for them, for in vedic literature we find that anyone who is killed by the supreme lord becomes liberated.