Grihastha life after 50

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
All glories to Swami Gaurangapada!
All glories to Srilla Prabhupada!

I found on many places in Srilla Prabhupada's purports that ideal householder should retire from his material duties when he reach 50 years, fully engage in devotional service, live on holy place, absorb in Naam, preach and on that way make his life perfect.

Some devotees think that this is not suitable for this modern age and they are giving example of Srilla Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Is it all right for grhastha to have such desire (simultaneously not neglecting family/material duties but accepting them)? Family life is in touch with constant earning money, daily job, management etc. In such atmosphere it is harder for ordinary person to make spiritual progress. Also to support family he or she in modern times must work many more hours then before, and when working hours are over there are small amount of time for serious spiritual activities.

Such position is like burning cage - it is burning everywhere, but person can not escape! What should person do in such case?

It may or not be relate with this topic, I just remembered Lord Gauranga who abandoned his grhastha life in very young age. His wife could not tolerate pain of separation but He took sanyas anyway. What is significance for us in this lila?

I can practically see that there is no end in material entanglement of this world. Desires of relatives, neighbors, friends etc. can never become fully satisfied by any material means. I am working very very hard for past seven months, almost whole day to secure existence for my family and to fulfill different duties and obligations best I can. There is no varnasrama or support of community and more or less we are like aliens in sense-gratification community. It is hard battle for existence.

When person is starting to make some spiritual progress materially absorbed persons can not understand that. They think that we are crazy. So in this insane environment it is hard to dedicate fully to spiritual practice. Devotees like me are in great need of sanga, community support, etc. Internet is giving us some possibility for that, yet it is not enough. Anyway I just wanted to describe thinking of aspiring devotee flamed in burning cage.

Basic question was about leaving family life after 50. Please share and elaborate about this topic.

Dasso'smi Igor

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna

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