SGI toilet guidance

"Hallo Jan!

your problem really touched a nerve with me. I have heard of this stage of
stagnation, or something I've heard members call a 'plateau' stage, where you
feel that you've reached a point where you're not moving forward – my district
leader told me about it on the first week when I started to chant. She told me
that it will happen, especially if you've had a rocket like start to the study
and practise of Buddhism, which I had, over 1.5 years ago. I literally couldn't
put the books down.

She also told me, that it will be a time for me to REALLY deepen my practise.
Instead of going to the 'next stage', imagine digging deeper, and rediscovering
the enthusiastic seeking spirit you had in the beginning by chanting sincerely
to connect with NMRK, and Sensei's spirit.

I found that doing SGI activities, not just taking part but taking
responsibilities, got me out of deadlock. I had some issues with bigger
meetings, like you, and I felt a slight disconnection from the organisation. I
realised, that I was afraid to take on more responsibilities, after my knowledge
had increased. It felt like I was seeing errors, mistakes, discrepancies
EVERYWHERE in the organisation. I realised that this was my first real obstacle,
and after learning about the dangers of slander (of the self, the law, or other
members), I decided to push my doubts to the back seat and do something about
it. "Daimoku first" – then I volunteered at every possible activity with any role 
that was available, be it cleaning toilets or designing the event invitation.
Taking action was enough for me to move forward, and from that activity, I made
incredible new connections and revived my desire to study by supporting someone
very new to the practise.

So I'd say, that finding gratitude for my 'plateau' stage is the proof that I've
moved forward from it, as SO MUCH came out of it. I'd say embrace all the
feelings you are having, to realise the area in your practise which can be the
key to revive the excitement you were feeling in the beginning. There is no
'final stage' in Buddhism, right? So there shouldn't be a sense of completing a
stage before moving onto the next one and never going back to the beginning. I
re-read one of the books recently, which I was given 5 years ago, and I realised
I'd forgotten most of the amazing words that gave me hope those times!"  --

Anne on SGI Unofficial