Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, is it better for grhasthas to be self-supporting and living outside the temple? Like somebody working all day and following the regulative principles?

Prabhupada: Temple is meant for rendering service to the Lord. So if anyone is rendering service to the Lord, he can live. But not for sense gratification. Those grhasthas who still have desire for sense gratification, they may live outside.

Devotee: What about the grhastha's duty toward his family, like looking after his family and children? In India, like when you have a daughter you have to get her married and…

Prabhupada: Yes, when you have accepted family life, you must be responsible to carry out. Not that I become family man all of a sudden I give up everything. No, that is not wanted. But if one is actually advanced, he can give up everything. He has no more duty.

Devotee: But the question comes up that you have given a vow against fire at the time of marriage that the husband will look after the wife and the family. Then how does that fit in when you leave the family all of a sudden? Is there not a responsibility to…

Prabhupada: No no, not all of a sudden. All of a sudden…, generally you have to discharge the duties of family life, and at the ripe age, when everything is settled up, then you give up the family.

Devotee: Is it right that all the responsibility should be cleared up before…

Prabhupada: You cannot clear up all the responsibility. Therefore up to fiftieth year. After that, whatever is done, that's all. (Sanskrit) But our philosophy is there is no question of giving up this or taking up that. Simply take to Krsna consciousness. Wherever you remain, it doesn't matter. Either in family life or…

Devotee: In the vanaprastha asrama, after fifty years of age, what is the duty? Is it to live in the temple, or devote most of time to Krsna, or where the wife comes in then?

Prabhupada: Temple you should live always. Even if in family life, you must come to the temple. Temple worship is for everyone.

Morning Walk, June 21, 1976, Toronto