We are here by grace!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 07 January 2018, Brisbane, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.20)

We have been given the gift of the holy name, but actually, we are given even more than that. We have the additional mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu! Through his mercy, what is difficult for us becomes easy. And without his mercy, what is meant to be easy becomes unexpectedly difficult. This is a key point for all of us to always remember and appreciate.

In the Lagu Bhagavatamrta, Srila Rupa Goswami gives a lengthy and thorough explanation of all the avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu, and then he proceeds to give an explanation on what is happening in the kali-yugas of all the other universes where Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not appear. He says that during the kali-yugas in these universes, there is also an incarnation of Vishnu that makes an appearance and brings with them the gift of harinama sankirtan. So this is something really special! However, that special mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that enables us to easily attain Krsna prema (love for Krsna) and lose all the impiety so easily by developing attraction for Krsna; that is lacking in the kali-yugas of all these other universes. So it is not so successful to attain Krsna prema elsewhere. Although the mission of chanting the holy name is still present there, it is not spreading as widely with success as it is here in this yuga.

namo maha-vadanyaya
krishna-prema-pradaya te
krishnaya krishna-caitanya
namne gaura-tvishe namah

It is Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu appearing in this yuga as Krsna himself, who is widely distributing pure love for Krsna; to him we offer our obeisances.

So in this way, it is said that in this age of Kali, we are actually elevated even beyond the position of the pious personalities of the past. We must however always remember our fallen position and act accordingly. We must never forget that we are only in the position where we are today because of grace, exceptional grace, and not by our qualifications.