What kind of vow is the most sincere?Do one have to pay a price for making a vow

[RedLantern]

For people engage in Buddhist practice,a "vow" sets a goal in their practice so that they will work diligently towards achieving it. In Buddhism,one believes that you will have the strength to achieve something if there is a vow.When there is a vow,there is great strength.Vow can even surpass one's karma.Hence when there is a pious vow,miracles can happen.One has to learn and abide by it ,once one make it.One should make a vow and abide by it and strive towards it wholeheartedly.A vow that is not followed by action is an empty vow.Although there is a goal,it is not objective.It is something you do that expects nothing in return.

[fruven]

All vows are created for benefiting of the vow holders and because of holding the vows others sentient beings obtained benefits as a result of the vow holders' commitments. Our own peace of happiness because of holding the vows do bring peace and happiness to others. Sincerity comes from our own motivation not from the vows. If one holds a vow one should know about the vow and how it can bring benefits. If that is not the case what is the point of holding a vow?

Pay the price as in putting effort? Or pay the price as in sacrifice something?

If there is no effort how could there be a result? If it is letting go and dropping something that doesn't bring benefit or negative habits and activities, for example, sacrificing gambling habits, sacrificing laziness, they are not sacrifices. Sacrifice means giving a way something good. Here we are giving up something negative and non-beneficial to gain something beneficial. We don't say we sacrifice smoking to gain good health.

[DS Star]

Contrary to common belief, taking vows is not to bind us but it is to free us. The vows remind us of the suffering that will follow us if we commit to the acts. So by avoiding those actions, we free ourselves from the imminent sufferings that will follow as a result of those actions.

Buddhists' most basic and fundamental vows are the refuge vows.

"In the Buddhist tradition, the purpose of taking refuge is to awaken from confusion and associate oneself with wakefulness. Taking refuge is a matter of commitment and acceptance and, at the same time, of openness and freedom. By taking the refuge vow we commit ourselves to freedom." Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

[Midakpa]

I think for vows to bear fruit, one has to keep them. That's the "price" you have to pay. If you break your vows, you need to repair it and do purification practices.

Taking vows is actually taking a step to freedom. Vows do not bind us. On the contrary, they set us free. So we shouldn't think that you are losing your freedom when you take vows.

Are there vows that are more sincere than others? I don't think so. But there are vows that are supreme because they are made for the benefit of others. Bodhisattvas, for example, make supreme vows for the sake of all sentient beings.