The Origins of the Vajrayana Tradition  By Peter Della Santina
Let us begin by looking at the Vajrayana tradition briefly in
the context of the Mahayana. The Mahayana tradition is divided
into two paths, the practice of the perfections (Paramitayana)
and the practice of the Vajrayana (Mantrayana). The Vajrayana is
a part of the Mahayana tradition. There is no distinction
between the two in terms of their starting point (the experience
of suffering) and their goal (Buddhahood). The only difference
is in methodology: whereas accomplishment of the path of the
There are three names by which the Vajrayana tradition is best
known: Vajrayana, Mantrayana, and Tantrayana. Vajrayana is the
way of the adamant, or diamond. Vajra means diamond, the
substance more durable than any other. The vajra is also the
thunderbolt or scepter wielded by Indra, the king of the
Brahmanical gods. The vajra is therefore a symbol of
indestructibility and also of mastery over the universe.  A
mantra is a short formula that generally has