The importance of taking vows

Whilst I can accept that vows are not necessary for everyone in all circumstances and at every stage of development, I am beginning to understand the importance of establishing a commitment in a structured form. Whilst different Buddhists taking different paths, teachings, and lifestyles will take different vows, the choice to take some form of obligation would seem to be wise.

Without stating precisely which vows I have personally taken, I will say that I have made a 'general vow' as a directive towards gradually taking on various standard vows rather than taking on a whole bunch at the start. This means that as I grow along my Buddhist pathway, I incorporate more of the vows from one of my 2 chosen lineages as I progress, rather than adopting them all as an initial vow. My vow is to gradually take them all on, but feeling unable to handle them all in one go, I prefer to 'increase my commitments as I travel onward'.

Recently, I read and contemplated a specific vow that I chose to take on. The intention to do so being enough to establish my commitment to it, after the initial vow of 'taking on more undertakings as I go'. When the relevant occasion next occurred that would previously have been a '50-50' on whether I took the right action or not, having taken on that vow meant that it became a '75-25' and that the right action was taken. Having made the commitment, I felt obliged to take the correct course when deciding whether to or not, rather than allowing the moment itself to guide me.