Vajrayana Buddhism received is name from the Sanskrit word Vajra which represents the thunderbolt wielded by Indra, the God of war and weather. This word also loosely translates to mean diamond denoting unbreakable strength. As such Vajrayana Buddhism is often called the Diamond Vehicle and Indestructible Path of Buddhism. It is also synonymous with various other names, including Thunderbolt Vehicle, true Words sect, esoteric Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism Mantrayana and Secret Mantra among others.
The goal of spiritual practice within the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions is to become a bodhisattva whereas the goal for Theravada practice is not specific to which type of enlightened being to become. As with the Mahayana, motivation is a vital component of Vajrayana practice and Vajrayana teaches that all practices are to be undertaken with the motivation to achieve Buddha Hood for the benefit of all sentient beings. |
