“I’m not taking a vow!”
“Do you want to know the ultimate truth?”
“Well, yes.”
“How much of it do you want…23% 47% 99.999% or 100%?”
“I’m not going to commit myself to anything, but of course I want to know the truth 100%.”
“Then you have committed yourself 100%: the truth is a complete comprehension of ultimate reality.”
“Well, I’m not committing myself to any ‘funny’ business!”
“You are only making a commitment to yourself to realise your true nature, and in that there can be no half measures.”
“So what’s the point of a vow?”
“It is protection.”
It is a commitment to devotion and compassion – a deep appreciation and empathy.
Once we are committed, there is no feeling of commitment as it’s what we want. We have given up resistance, given up our suspicion, given up fear of whatever phenomena arises in our mind. We are aware of the effect of distractions. We can handle it. We have vowed to not stop until enlightenment. That’s 100%.
We now only have to build up our capacity. Our capacity is down to the amount our emotions are under our control in any situation.
A vow is also a protection. When we are in negative company, or reading or hearing negative views, we need to remember our positive intention for the truth – ultimate truth. That is the protection. We don’t get swayed: even criticising imprisons us into others’ negativity. Unless our capacity is very strong, we should avoid negative influences and let be. We are not ignoring others, but merely creating space.
Truth is indestructible.
The commitment is to ourselves.
When we break this commitment
we break our commitment to realising
our true nature.
When our commitment is strong,
then our commitment is to others,
that they may realise their true nature.
BUDDHA IN THE MUD is a blog - a living book based on the Dzogchen teachings. Our teacher is life, and life is karma. We are all Buddhas in the mud of concepts. 
Thanks Tony – love the idea that when there is commitment, there is no commitment! This piece by Shantideva sums up, for me, the wholehearted commitment to compassionate action:
May I be the doctor and the medicine
And may I be the nurse
For all sick beings in the world
Until everyone is healed.
May a rain of food and drink descend
To clear away the pain of thirst and hunger
And during the aeon of famine
May I myself change into food and drink.
May I become an inexhaustible treasure
For those who are poor and destitute;
May I turn into all things they could need
And may these be placed close beside them….
May I be protector for those without one,
A guide for all travelers on the way;
May I be a bridge, a boat and a ship
For all who wish to cross the water.
May I be an island for those who seek one,
And a lamp for those desiring light,
May I be a bed for all who wish to rest
And a slave for all who want a slave
Daisy