71-12“As for your questions about householder life, first of all, who is looking after Oklahoma City temple? If you are president then what is the use of opening center if you cannot attend all temple functions? Who is looking after temple management? If you are in charge, either you should live there or there is no need for such temple. Of course, it is not that anyone is excluded from being my disciple if they do not cent percent attend all of temple programs, but they should be encouraged to attend as far as possible. Living outside and working are not prohibited, and it is not recommended that such strict rule as no outside living should be enforced, but living in the association of devotees is better. From our side there is never any objection if it is inconvenient for temple living, but if you are in charge of organizing your new center, I think you should live in the company of the other devotees there, to train them and work with them for distributing our books and magazines and pushing on this Krsna consciousness movement full-time. But if there is some difficulty to do this or some problem with getting money, then you should consult further with your GBC man to make adjustment. Preaching is our first-class engagement, including sankirtana party, selling books, speaking, like that. But if for some reason a devotee is unable so do these things, then I say that they are allowed to live outside and work as a concession.

Our service for Krsna is voluntary and can never be forced. And whatever position in life one holds he can serve Krsna in that way. But yourselves being such qualified and experienced preachers, what is the benefit of engaging in the second-class activity when there is so much preaching work to be done? Practically speaking, our Krsna philosophy will save the whole world from the most dangerous condition, that is a fact. So now you just become convinced yourselves of this fact and help me spread this movement for saving the world with all conviction and attention, and in this way you will be performing the highest type of activity and very soon you will go back home, back to Godhead, know it for certain. I have no objection if you keep home Deities.”
(SPL to Vamanadeva and Indira dasi, December 8th, 1971)