The fifteenth lojong slogan says, “Four practices are the best of methods.” The first method is accumulating merit. The second is to lay down evil deeds.

This one’s pretty obvious. Quite simply, be open to seeing where you may be wrong. And when you realize it, stop and change course immediately. Drop it. Lay it down and let it go.

The Tibetan word at play here is “dikpa” which has been translated as “neurotic crimes.” That’s so helpful, because usually, when it’s a matter of evil, it’s a neurosis problem. It’s about forcing a false view we have of things onto the world. (I mean, this is a very timely teaching…)

The first step to lay down evil deeds is to just get totally sick of our own neurosis. It’s often embarrassing, and can feel shameful. We say, “I cannot believe I did that” or “I was being such a jerk.” This is why some teachers also call this method “confession.” It’s not the Christian idea of confession, of course, but a personal sense of taking responsibility. And from there, we repent. Which means, specifically, that we show by our actions that we truly do take responsibility and intend going forward to do better.

As Norman Fischer explains, it’s not about defending ourselves or justifying our actions. In fact, we find ourselves back at the lojong slogan “Drive all blames into one.” Start with yourself. Take the blame and just see what part of it is yours.

When we practice this method, our regret comes from a genuine place.So we don’t hide from the full truth of it. We acknowledge it and let it all in. We let it be what it is. After all, that’s the only way to truly let it go. So letting go of our evil deeds means getting very close to our conscience, and listening to whatever it might be whispering to us.

Where might your conscience be whispering today? What deed needs letting go?